Mock trial provides fun, practical way for home school students to study law

(ROCKWALL, TX — Aug. 5, 2016) A group of local home school students began the summer loaded with a wealth of knowledge of the legal system after having the exciting opportunity to conduct a mock trial inside the historic courthouse in downtown Rockwall.

As part of their analytical, rhetorical, and debate studies, teams from two local home school communities – the Classical Conversations Challenge B programs from the Mesquite and Terrell campuses –  stepped into the roles of prosecutor, defense attorney and testifying witnesses in a mock trial that saw Justice Craig Stoddart of the Fifth Court of Appeals preside over the case. The trial involved a dog owner charged with murder and possession of a dangerous animal after his dog attacked a teenager.

About half of the kids (ages 13-15) who participated in the mock trial are from Rockwall and attend the Mesquite campus, as there are currently no Classical Conversations homeschool groups for those levels yet in Rockwall. Six parents served as jurors, and Justice Stoddart provided critiques for each student and general feedback to build the students’ skills.

The community directors and students spent the spring semester in preparation for the trial, which included opening and closing statements, direct and cross examination of witnesses, and basic evidentiary objections.

In the Classical Conversations Challenge B program, students hone their research, writing and presentation skills through the study of current events and the history of science. During the second semester, they are asked to put all the skills and knowledge they learned in the first semester into practice in a mock trial before a judge and jury, relying on their own preparation and teamwork to argue their case.

Classical Conversations student Mary Claire Weible of Rockwall said the experience taught her a lot about the legal system. During the trial, Mary wrote her own closing statement as a defense attorney, cross and direct examine various witnesses portrayed by her fellow students, and even had the opportunity to play a witness for the prosecution when the teams switched sides.

“The thing I enjoyed most about the mock trial experience was expanding my knowledge of the legal system, and I loved the acting it allowed me to do,” Mary said. “Justice Stoddart was enthusiastic about the trial throughout the day, he was patient when we had questions, and he took he time to help us really understand the process of a criminal trial.”

Although she does not plan to pursue law as a career, Mary said she wants to continue to expand her knowledge of the subject.

“I find it very interesting, and I plan to continue to broaden my understanding of law,” she said.

Following the trial, Justice Stoddart guided the students on a tour of the old Rockwall County Jail on the top floor of the historic courthouse.

Story by Austin Wells, Blue Ribbon News editor. 

  classical conversations challenge b, feature, homeschool, justice craig stoddart, mock trial, Rockwall