Students compete in mock trials

Events for college and high school students will run at the same time.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Courtrooms in Mahoning County are being used this week to hold a mock trial competition for law students from eight universities.
The winner of the three-day regional event will advance to national competition March 11-14 in Palm Beach, Fla.
"This is going to be a great event," said Atty. Richard White, president of the Mahoning County Bar Association. "The bar association and the county judges have really gotten behind it."
The competition began today and will continue Friday and Saturday, White said. Teams of law students will participate in mock trials, for which they will be judged and graded by local lawyers.
Law students are participating from Case Western Reserve University, the University of Akron, the University of Toledo, Widener University in Chester, Pa., Northern Kentucky University, the University of Louisville, the University of Virginia and Valparaiso (Ind.) University.
White said each mock trial is expected to last about two hours. Courtrooms will be used in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court, U.S. Bankruptcy Court and U.S. District Court, all in Youngstown.
High school event
A regional mock trial for high school students also will be in the courthouse on Friday only, with eight high schools participating. The winning team will advance to state competition March 13-15 in Columbus.
Hubbard High School is the only local school participating, White said.
He said this is the first time the tournaments have been held in Youngstown.
The events are sponsored by the county bar association and common pleas court, 7th District Court of Appeals, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the Ohio Center for Law Related Education.
bjackson@vindy.com