Last week, seven Sylvan Hills students participated in the The Arkansas Bar Mock Trial Competition held at the Federal Courthouse in Little Rock. This is the first time that PCSSD has ever had a team represented in this competition.
This team of students (7 lawyers and 6 witnesses) spent countless hours learning the rules of courtroom procedures, law, including objections, responses, rules of evidence and their exceptions. The Sylvan Hills Mock Trial team played the role of prosecutors and defense, alternating for each round. They were given a trial which included all of the witness statements, exhibits (evidence) involved. The students also played the role of witnesses in the case.
The SHHS Mock Trial team received the following awards:
Star Awards for Attorneys:
Khennedi Boykin
Mark Smith - 3 Star Awards
Star Awards for Attorneys:
Jaiden Briders
Chloe Cathey
Asia Jackson - 2 Star Awards
The judges indicated their surprise that this was a new team, comprised of first-time competitors. They added that the SHHS team was extremely cohesive and handled themselves professionally in opposition to other teams who were cited for unprofessionalism. One student in particular, Mark Smith, received high praise from all of the judges.
"If I were a law professor, I'd want him as my student," said one judge who had served on the Arkansas Supreme Court. "[Mark] was the guiding force of that team."