Mock Trial pits Jefferson v. Libertas

Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.

Students from the Jefferson County Homeschool Association (JCHA) faced off in a mock trial against students from the Libertas Academic Cooperative in Leon County on March 31 at the Jefferson County Courthouse Annex as part of the 2023 Florida Middle School Mock Trial Competition.
This year's fictional case, Taylor Malcolm v. The Drew F. Watson Zoological Gardens, concerned a young man being attacked by a gorilla at a zoological park. Unlike previous cases, this was a civil trial wherein the plaintiff was seeking a monetary award due to the negligence of the zoo owner.
JCHA President Tammy Brookins said, “Both teams had spent many weeks preparing for the role-play event in order to learn about trial process and increase their understanding of the legal system, the role of juries and the administration of justice.”
To prepare for the mock trial, the students examined a 66-page packet of case materials provided by the Justice Teaching Center at Florida Southern College, which included a Case Summary, the Statement of Charge, Plea, Witness Affidavits, Exhibits and the Florida Mock Trial Simplified Rules of Evidence and Procedure. The fabricated case seems well designed to engage its middle school age audience by bringing together a situation involving exotic animals, a sports star and a question of whose actions (or lack thereof) led to the injuries.
This is the third year that JCHA participated in the Homeschool Middle School Mock Trial competition. The Jefferson and Leon/Libertas teams went through the trial twice, taking turns arguing for the defense and for the plaintiff.
The Jefferson team, coached by attorney Monica Freeland, included 11 students. Arguing for the defense were Tessia Brookins, Aislyn Shartzer, Finley Crosby, Jake Peary and Thaddeus Kocher. Arguing for the plaintiff were Crickett Lee, Allie Dollar, Joel Pollock, Sofia Rose Pollock, Paisley Crosby and Adalyn Dollar.
The Leon/Libertas team, coached by Betty Johnson, included Lily Boulo, Asher Hill, Maggie Quinton, Claire Schultetus, Blaise Voran and Emma Waller for the defense; and Anna Cate Cole, Molly Gay, Jared McCormick, Cason Philley, Josiah Stake and Norah Bodoh for the plaintiff.
Monticello attorney Floyd Faglie played the role of the judge in the case, and jurors were played by local residents Gretchen Wallace, Davis Revell, Mary Ann Frisby, Grant Payne, Melissa Montalvo and Nicole French.
Brookins reported that in both trials, the Leon/Libertas prevailed and in overall points the Leon/Libertas team was announced the winner.
“Both teams performed with integrity and with legal ethics,” commented Brookins, adding that notable performances were Norah Bodoh and Allie Dollar for “Most Effective Attorneys” and Maggie Quinton and Molly Gay for “Most Effective Witnesses.”
Following their morning of dramatic learning, the mock trial participants and their families were treated to lunch, provided by Staunton & Faglie, PL, and hosted by First Baptist Church of Monticello, to acknowledge the hard work dedicated to this project.