DANVILLE — Twenty-four teams have made it to the state qualifiers for OCLRE mock trial competition. One of those elite 24 is the Danville Mock Trial team – a group that’s been down this path several times.
The team is compromised of Minda Bates, Ryan Lucas, Nora Holbrook, Olivia Keffer, Caleb Lucas and Zander Patrick led by Mount Vernon Assistant Law Director Brittany Whitney and Noel Alden partner with Zelkowitz, Barry & Cullers.
The state competition will be March 9 to 11 at the Franklin County Courthouse. This year’s case is In re S. Khan, where a high school student, Stevie Khan, allegedly filled eggs with explosive candy, causing havoc during the district’s annual alumni breakfast.
Khan was brought into the dean’s office, where he was questioned. This interview was used against Khan in a criminal proceeding, though that’s not what the court hearing is about.
The question is – Was Khan’s fifth amendment rights violated?
Once Danville’s team arrives at the courthouse on March 9, it will compete in two trials, one as the prosecution and one as the defense.
For Keffer, this is her first time traveling to state competition, while it’s the third time for Ryan Lucas.
“I think mock trial is about evolving as a team a program,” Lucas said. “I feel like we’ve definitely made the necessary changes. We have more character witnesses per se.
“We’re more prepared as to case law with objections as well as rule numbers. I feel like it’s a lot cleaner.”
Being back in person for state competition brings an advantage to the team, Ryan said.
Since winning the regional event, Danville’s team has brought the intensity of practices up another level, Alden said.
The team has practiced different cross-examinations for witnesses and made tweaks to its opening and closing arguments.
With state competition being a potential three-day event, Lucas said it’s crucial to approach it one trial at a time.
“First you gotta move on,” Lucas said. “It’s just survive and advance. It’s a privilege to move on. A lot of people are at home while we’re still here.”
The team is really in bonus time at this point.
“That’s the way I thought of that because half of our first team are seniors and the fact that we got to stay, it just means we can keep this season going as long as possible,” Keffer said. “I think that’s our goal. As long as we keep it going this season will end and so the seniors will have a good experience.
“That’s what I want to try to do is to prolong it as long as possible.”
