Sunday, February 9, 1997
"Lawyers" from Clyde win High School
Mock Trial competition
A team of attorney-wannabes from Clyde High School outlawyered
the competition from four other schools to win the regional Texas
High School Mock Trial competition Saturday.
Clyde advanced to next month's state competition by beating
Wylie High in a showdown round after the two schools tied for
first following two rounds of battle. Abilene High finished third,
followed by Anson and Cooper high schools.
During the competition at the Taylor County Courthouse, each
team played the prosecution and defense in a mock case involving
a pipe bombing at the fictional Texoma State Fair.
A 17-year-old gang member was charged with capital murder after
three people were killed in the bombing.
Prosecutors charged the defendant willingly planted the bomb
as part of a gang initiation. Defense attorneys argued the defendant
was duped into believing the bomb was a hoax and was coerced with
threats of physical violence.
Students played the roles of attorneys and witnesses, and they
were judged on their presentations by members of the Abilene Young
Lawyers Association.
"I thought they were just outstanding," association
president Mike Fouts said afterward. "I can't tell you how
impressed I was. For high school students who haven't been to
law school, they did a fabulous job. I was thinking, 'I'm glad
I don't have to go against some of these guys.' "
Members of the Clyde team are Jerod Yates, Ben Walton, Jake
Bailey, David Blackstock, Lance Ralston, Matt Lashlee, Brianne
Patton, Amanda Cozart, Shannon Yarborough and Randa Vestal. The
coach is Natalie Hermes.
The statewide competition is sponsored by the State Bar of
Texas and the Dallas Bar Association.
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Copyright ©1997,
Abilene Reporter-News / Texnews / E.W. Scripps Publications
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