We Need Volunteers!
The Lawyers Association of Kansas City YLS and Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis are hosting the Missouri High School Mock Trial State Finals from 3/31/23-4/2/23. The rounds will be held at the Jackson County Courthouse in Independence, MO.
We are seeking volunteers to serve as presiding and scoring judges on each night of the competition. Judges are asked to arrive to the courthouse by 30 minutes before trial start. We will have a short orientation, then proceed with rounds. We will provide food and drink during orientation.
This is a great event and it's really inspiring to see how hard the high school students prepare for the mock trial and their enthusiasm for the law.
Presiding judges will preside over the trial, ruling on objections and keeping the trial flowing smoothly. Presiding judges do not score individual segments of the trial, but do give an overall verdict at the end of the trial. Presiding judges must have a law degree, and some litigation experience is helpful for ruling on objections.
Scoring judges will evaluate each segment of the trial (opening, direct #1, cross #1, etc) on its own merits resulting in an overall score for the trial that reflects the team that was technically better without regard to the team that would have won the verdict. Scoring judges will not be asked to rule on objections or maintain courtroom order but will instead observe the trial from the jury box. Scoring judges must have a bachelor’s degree but do not have to have any formal legal training or a law degree.
Thank you for helping us making this year's state finals a success, we could not do this without you!
