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Welcome to Mock Trial

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Welcome to Michigan Mock Trial

Welcome to Mock Trial!

This page will provide information about Michigan’s Mock Trial Program as well as information on the upcoming season.

Are you interested in starting a Mock Trial Program? MCCE welcomes you to start a team. From coaches roundtables, clinics, and coaches retreats, we hope you will find the program rewarding.

New schools and new hosts are welcome!

Legal professionals including judges, clerks, sections, courts, and affinity groups, please click to the left to learn what is needed to host this important event in our “Mock  Trial  in  a  Box” resource.

Schools, teachers, students, and community members, please click to the right to learn more about the program. We are here to help. Please start with this helpful FAQ about getting started in Michigan.

What is Mock Trial?

Mock Trial is an amazing extra-curricular, co-curricular, and curricular program. Mock Trial advances knowledge and skills incorporating trial procedure, justice, rule of law, and more while encouraging teamwork, collaboration, and public speaking skills.

Watch students transform themselves into witnesses and attorneys and enact case facts in front of attorneys and judges in real life (or virtually real life) courtrooms. 

MCCE is also committed to expanding access to the law and justice. Our new companion programs encourage the storytelling necessary to tell the human experience inside the courtroom. Courtroom Artists illustrate the stories and Courtroom Journalists report on the information for the whole world to see, understand, and appreciate. Moreover, MCCE is dedicated to providing accessibility to current and future members of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities and their interpreters. ASL interpreters who are seeking ‘hands up’ time in courtrooms may use the high school mock trial series to approximate the real life of the courtroom while earning additional training hours for their certificate credentials. 

Middle school and elementary programs coming soon! MCCE is seeking sponsors who share this commitment to help expand to reach each and every school in Michigan. Message us if you want to help amplify the benefits of this program. 

To learn more about the benefits of Mock Trial – please click here.

Welcome!

Enjoy the 2024-2025 Case Materials
State of Michigan v Hemingway

Welcome!

2024-2025 Rules and Procedures

Welcome!

Volunteers Check Back November 15 to Sign up!  Thank you!

Welcome!

Step-by-Step Guide for School Registration
Please reach out if we can assist with the Tabroom Registration at mocktrial@dev.the360sol.com

2024-2025 Mock Trial Season

The 2024-2025 Mock Trial season is here! MCCE is pleased to present revised Mock Trial Rules (including rules of evidence), Trial Tips and Procedures, and the 2024-2025 Criminal Case. MCCE is also pleased to continue advancing the Michigan Supreme Court Rules for Professionalism & Civility initiative in Mock Trial. MCCE extends its deep appreciation to the Oakland County Bar Foundation and the Macomb County Bar Foundation for their enduring support! They make the events possible. What to Expect for 2024-2025

  • August Coaches and Teacher Retreat – Aug 7-9, 2024
  • Case release on October 15, 2024! Check the case release online on the MCCE Youtube page
  • School registration opened November 1, 2024
  • Volunteer sign-ups will open November 10, 2024
  • Case Q&A. Please submit all questions through this form and MCCE will release answers to online for all to have access.
  • Case Q&A Answer Form. Please check here for the answers to all submitted questions for the Case Q&A form.
  • Monday Coaches Roundtables to Begin October 14 at 5:30 pm (see dates and Zoom links below)
  • See dates for clinics, regionals, and states below
  • School team registration due no later than January, 24, 2025
  • Courtroom Journalist and Courtroom Artist due no later than January 31, 2025
  • Team membership due no later than January 31, 2025 (for program inclusion)

Mock Trial Clinics – Register here for the clinics!

  • September 17 – Marquette
  • Tuesday, December 3 – Hall of Justice, Lansing
  • Wednesday, December 4 – Wayne State Law School, Detroit
  • Thursday, December 5 – Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, Grand Rapids
  • Want a clinic in your area? Reach out to MCCE!

Tentative Regional Events:

  • Fri. February 7 – Northern Michigan
  • Sat., February 8 – Wayne & Washtenaw (at Wayne)
  • Sat., February 22 – Oakland County
  • Sat,. March 1 – Macomb County (Macomb Regional is Full as of 1/6/25).
  • Sat., March 1 – Monroe County
  • Sat., March 1 – Wayne County (part 2)
  • Sat., March 8 – Kent County
  • Sat., March 8 – Marquette County

State and National Finals

  • Civic Education Reception – Friday, March 21 – AC Hotel, Lansing
  • March 21-22 – State Finals – Lansing* to be finalized later if 1 or 2 days
  • May 8-10, 2025 – Phoenix, AZ (Legal Team, Artist, and Journalist Categories)

Volunteers Needed:

  • Volunteers need to mentor and coach schools
  • Clinic and tutorial educators
  • Scoring Judges
  • Presiding Judges
  • Courtroom Officers
  • Courtroom Artist Judges and Educators
  • Courtroom Journalist Judges and Educators
  • Hospitality – Hosts and Hall Supervisors
  • Logistics

Sponsors Needed Show your support for the current and future legal community by sponsoring Mock Trial events.

Welcome! School Information

Welcome schools! The Basics. In every Michigan Mock Trial event, there are three witnesses and three attorneys. Teams may consist of 6-12 students. Schools are permitted up to three (3) teams per regional. MCCE tries to alternate between civil and criminal cases each year, choosing topics of contemporary interest. 

Regional Information.MCCE currently hosts 6 regional events. All schools across the entire state are encouraged to participate. MCCE is actively seeking Courthouses to house additional regional events throughout Michigan including Northern Michigan. 

Registration runs from 7:35-8:00 am each morning with an awards ceremony approximately from 4:30-5:00p.m. In the school orientation materials below, you will find a more detailed schedule. 

State Finals Information. Depending on courtroom facilities, 10 – 12 teams will advance to state finals. All qualifying schools will compete in two preliminary trials. The top four teams advance to semi-finals. Two teams advance to the championship round. The school that wins that trial, has the opportunity to represent #TeamMichigan at the National High School Mock Trial Championship. The host site does change each year. #TeamMichigan will have the opportunity to compete in Wilmington, Delaware, May 2-5, 2024.

At every regional and state event, Courtroom Artists and Courtroom Journalists also have the opportunity to showcase their talents. These state champions will also have the opportunity to represent #TeamMichigan at the National Championship. MCCE delights in being able to improve access to justice for the greater legal community. ASL Interpreters needing additional training or hands up time may also coordinate with their agencies to use the Michigan Mock Trial Courtrooms to increase their training.

Volunteer Information!

Thank you in advance for contributing to the development of young legal minds!

The new volunteer and school registration system can be found here (http://mimocktrial.tabroom.com).

Materials to walk through your account set up may be found here.

Please see these two documents for volunteer information. Those volunteering to assist with hospitality or logistics will receive separate, on-site communications. Notes: These are Google Docs so that we may update information as needed and all volunteers will receive a folder with all the materials printed. Judges, please bring an electronic device if possible for ballot entry. We will have volunteers and extra devices available on site! Thank you so much!

Sign Up to Volunteer Here Via Tabroom

Mock Trial Event Dates

Observer Information

Here is the observer form 

Thank you for supporting Mock Trial participants. Your role as a supporter means so much to the students. To ensure all observers know and adhere to the professionalism standards of the activity, all observers much wear a nametag and sign the code of conduct.

This new process will help facilitate and streamline the observer check in process the day of the mock trial event. all observers the morning of the event. We are excited to have your involvement.

The school and observer code of conduct is linked here.  Observers, please pay careful attention to page three. That is the observer code of conduct. 

Who should fill out this form? Anyone who is not a team participant, official teacher of record, or listed as a community coach should complete this form. Any observers from parents/guardians, community leaders, friends, or other interested persons who wish to observe a trial should complete the form.

Who does not need to complete the form? If you are officially listed as a community coach at registration, you do note need to complete the form. Your name tags will be available with your school check in materials.

What do I do the morning of the event? Simply check in at the registered observer location to receive your name tag. Schools will draw their codes at registration and simply add the code to your name tag.

What if I don’t register? There will be an observer registration table at registration. Please know this time of the morning is very busy so you may need to wait to register. We encourage preregistration to help streamline the process.

When do I need to complete the form? Please complete the registration form no later than 48 hours prior to the event date. For example, if your event is on a Saturday, please complete no later than the Wednesday before the event.

Thank you for supporting your Mock Trial students!

You may review the code of conduct again here. Please click the button below to indicate your agreement.
Observer Registration Registration Form (Opens Jan 2024)

Resources for Schools

School Orientations:

Thank you for joining in on the school orientations. If you missed an orientation, reach out to MCCE directly! A link to the materials we reviewed can be found here. Please pay special attention to the highlighted NEW information including rules changes and the Star Witness and Attorney Awards!

MCCE continued a series of virtual school orientations this year. Our goal continues to be to welcome students into MCCE as well as address questions and processes for everyone. Coach and/or students can attend. We will review the likely schematics, go over how to read the program, Zoom naming conventions (if online), and address any and all questions you may have. This was deemed helpful by those who attended and helped ease some of the technology concerns and process questions for the day. All orientations must occur prior to the start of the first regional.

Monthly Teacher & Coach Roundtable Conversations!

Please join in the monthly teacher and coaches roundtables. These will be structured to include three components to help mobilize the law related education communities through mock trial. At each session expect:

a) Updates on the Mock Trial season from MCCE

b) A mini professional learning session on an issue of import to the community and mock trial practice and

c) Time for you to ask questions of each other to advance mock trial in your schools.

Right now these are scheduled for 5:30-6:30 on Mondays once a month beginning October of 2024.

The Zoom link is here (full url: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82408108490?pwd=me78OauVRlJLoKIB4ALq6GQTbXQ3Iq.1) 

Please reserve

Monday, October 14

Monday, November 11

Monday, December 16

Monday, January 20

Possible: Monday, February 3

Stay Up to Date with Mock Trial News and Information. Join the Michigan List Serve Here!

Virtual Mock Trial Tips with the Honorable Kameshia Gant

Virtual Mock Trial Tips with Judge Kameshia Gant!

Previous Season Materials

Curious about last year’s case? Please see the information below to review 2023-2024’s civil case here.

If you are interested in practicing with previous cases, you can see them here: 2021-2022 Case Materials – Hamlin v Orange (Civil) and 2022-2023 Case Materials – People of the State of Michigan v. Lane Hill(Criminal) Virtual Rules and Procedures

Artist Rules and Guidelines Journalist Rules and Guidelines Questions, Clarifications, and Inquiries about the Case? (Link Pending upon release of case)

Thank You!

Thank you to the sponsors below for making Mock Trial Possible.

Please reach out to show your support and investment in the present and future legal community. Help us make Mock Trial possible all across our great state.

Thank you to the 2023-2024 Sponsors:

State Bar of Michigan

The Alex Thoresen Legacy Foundation

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