CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS FOUNDATION 2005 NATIONAL TEACH-IN

ILLLINOIS STATE BAR ASSOCIATION
LAW-RELATED EDUCATION NEWSLETTER

March/April 2005

Statements, expressions of opinion or comments appearing herein are those of the editors or contributors, and not necessarily those of the Association or Committee.

Illinois State Bar Association High School Mock Trial Invitational

March 4 and 5, 2005

University of Illinois at Springfield

Illinois State Bar Association High School Mock Trial Invitational

March 4 and 5, 2005

University of Illinois at Springfield

The Illinois State Bar Association's 2005 High School Mock Trial Invitational was held on Friday and Saturday, March 4 and 5, 2005 at the University of Illinois at Springfield, Public Affairs Center. This year, 46 schools participated, with over 500 students in attendance. Below you will find "special recognitions" offered; however, this list cannot begin to recognize the achievement of all of the students who worked, studied and practiced for months prior to this event. There should be a special recognition for everyone for commitment to excellence and learning.

Congratulations are extended to the State Champions:

1^st Place – Hinsdale Central High School, Hinsdale

2^nd Place – Oak Park River Forest High School, Oak Park

3^rd Place – Boylan Catholic High School, Rockford

Top Eight Schools, after two trials (In Alphabetical Order):

Boylan Catholic, Rockford

Glenbard South, Glen Ellyn

Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale

Maine South, Park Ridge

Mundelein, Mundelein

Noble Street Charter, Chicago

Oak Park River Forest, Oak Park

Timothy Christian, Elmhurst

Highest Written Law Test Score

Boylan Catholic High School, Rockford

Highest Law Test Score – Individual (44 out of 45):

Dan Jenson from Boylan Catholic High School, Rockford

Jay McCarron from Glenbard South High School, Glen Ellyn

Alex Koenen from St. Charles East High School, St. Charles

Jim Houswerth from St. Charles East, St. Charles

Outstanding Achievement Awards

Bartlett High School

Andrea Mihai, Outstanding Attorney

Asha Talaft, Outstanding Witness

Boylan Catholic High School

Melissa Cheng, Outstanding Attorney

Dan Jensen, Outstanding Attorney

Peter Logli, Outstanding Attorney

Amanda Kamar, Outstanding Witness

Carmel Catholic High School

Daniel Chen, Outstanding Attorney

Chicago Christian High School

Bonnie Keane, Outstanding Attorney

Michelle Beenes, Outstanding Witness

De La Salle Institute

Alesia Vargas-Martin, Outstanding Witness

Wilfredo Galarza, Outstanding Witness

Evanston Township High School

Marianne Sauk, Outstanding Attorney

Hannah Deremo, Outstanding Witness

Fenwick High School

Michelle Gautreaux, Outstanding Attorney

Glenbard East High School

Andy Herrero, Outstanding Attorney

Glenbard South High School

Katie Kosartes, Outstanding Attorney

Julie Merritt, Outstanding Attorney

Will Hatcher, Outstanding Witness

Glenbrook South High School

Alex Markov, Outstanding Witness

Hinsdale Central High School

Mariq Mahideen, Outstanding Attorney

Dan Jaugey, Outstanding Witness

Hinsdale South High School

Sally Whitesides, Outstanding Witness

Homewood Flossmoor High School

Davia Anderson, Outstanding Attorney

Hubbard High School

Jose Almanza, Outstanding Witness

Illiana High School

Dave Rose, Outstanding Witness

Tessa Unger, Outstanding Witness

Law Explorer Post 24

Justin Park, Outstanding Attorney

Becca Bassett, Outstanding Attorney*

Becca Bassett, Outstanding Witness

Maine East High School

Ridha Khalid, Outstanding Witness

Maine South High School

Jessica Newton, Outstanding Attorney

Alyssa Engle, Outstanding Witness

Maine West High School

George Carerra, Outstanding Witness

Ewelina Przybylo, Outstanding Witness

Meridian High School

Leah Johnson, Outstanding Attorney

Noble Charter High School

Dionne Gomez, Outstanding Attorney

Korinna Komarova, Outstanding Attorney

Carolyn Ellwanger, Outstanding Witness

Normal Community High School

Tom Elliott, Outstanding Witness

Normal West High School

Brian Schertz, Outstanding Attorney

Ryan McAllister, Outstanding Witness

Oak Park River Forest High School

Alex McLeese, Outstanding Attorney

Nick Leittke, Outstanding Attorney

Peter Ribic, Outstanding Witness

Julia Chwasz, Outstanding Witness

Roxana High School

Kaleigh Glenn, Outstanding Witness

St. Charles East High School

Jillian Koenen, Outstanding Attorney

Salem Community High School

Taylor Hahn, Outstanding Attorney

Corey Fuhrhap, Outstanding Witness

Timothy Christian High School

Ben Post, Outstanding Attorney

Alyssa Van Saalduinen, Outstanding Attorney

Laura Wolff, Outstanding Attorney

Julia Dixon, Outstanding Witness

Cory DeBoest, Outstanding Witness

Thornton Fractional North High School

Searcy Lovett, Outstanding Attorney

Wells High School

Candace Sanjurjo, Outstanding Attorney

Wheaton Academy

Ryan Hall, Outstanding Attorney

Juliana Wilhoit, Outstanding Witness

Willowbrook High School

Sam Chesney, Outstanding Witness

York High School

Max McClintock, Outstanding Attorney

Kelle Profita, Outstanding Witness

Matthew Kipnis, Outstanding Witness

Zion Benton High School

Yvonne Batak, Outstanding Attorney

* Congratulations to Becca Bassett, the only person this year to be recognized both as an attorney and as a witness.

These are the people who make it happen. Whether they be ISBA staff, LRE Committee members or others within the legal community, their roles are vital to the administration of this program. Many of those listed below are regular volunteers who contribute their time and expertise each year, without fail. To those people, and to the new faces who came this year for the first time, the ISBA extends hearty thanks and congratulations for your efforts to make this endeavor a success.

Hon. Harris Agnew Mary Albert-Fritz

David Anders Kimberly Anderson

Michelle Anderson Lee Beneze

Melinda Bentley, ISBA Staff Joe Borsberry

Glendon Bradley, UIS Intern Rex Brown

William Brown Thomas Carlisle

Kelli Childress Hon. John Coady

William Costigan Randy Cox

Maureen DeArmand Alexandra de Saint Phalle

Lori Jo Dixon Rosalee Dodson

Erin Donaldson Blake Dunlap

Ed Dwyer Sheila Fahey-Wallenius

Ari Fisz Nan Fosen

Dan Fultz Angela Fyans

Camela Gardner Carl Gilmore

Chris Gramm Leslie Graves

Mark Hassakis, ISBA Board of Governors Eliott Hedin

George Heroux Kelli Hillis

Bryant Hitchings, UIS Intern Grady Holley

Arthur Inman Dean Jackson

Heather Jackson Frank Kopecky

Mary Lee Leahy John Long

Marc Loro Peter J. Maneuel, Sr.

Paula Magdich, ISBA Staff Lynda Marquardt

Mary McDermott, ISBA Staff Mary Milano

Jan Paul Miller Amy Mobley

Saul Morse Robert W. Mueller

Howard Peters IV Ann Pictor

Tracy Potter, ISBA Staff Jay Reece

Dennis Rendleman Michael Robinson

Martha Ross Vicki Runkel, ISBA Staff

Donna Schechter, ISBA Staff Dale Schempp

Christopher Sherer Steven Skelton

Kelli Smith Sean Smoot

Renee Snow Ronald Spies

Carol Swiney Barbara Tauscher

Selina Thomas, ISBA Staff Alan Tucker

Ryan Waterman Chuck Watson

Ed Weer Zee Williams

Christine Zeman Christine Zievel, UIS Intern

Members of the 2004-2005 Standing Committee on

Law-Related Education for the Public

Jay D Reece, Chair Mary L Milano, Vice-Chair

Zeophus J Williams, Secretary Lynda S Marquardt, Ex-Officio

Hon Harris H Agnew David L Anders

Kimberly J Anderson Rex L Brown

Thomas J Carlisle Kelli M Childress

Hon John P Coady Sheila Fahey-Wallenius

Camela A Gardner Carl W Gilmore

Heather A Jackson John F Kauffman

Frank J Kopecky Ann M Pictor

Steven B Skelton Kelli M Smith

Melinda J. Bentley, ISBA Staff Liaison

Donna Schechter, ISBA Staff Liaison & Mock Trial Coordinator, dschecht@isba.org

Mock Trials - An Asset Beyond High School

We recently heard from a retired Illinois mock trial teacher who wanted to share a story. He had received an e-mail from a former student who is currently working in Thailand with Burmese refugees interested in democracy for Burma. She had been part of the ISBA High School Mock Trials. She has been teaching English to the Burmese people, but they also wanted to learn how to present their ideas to an international community. Among other things, they were opposed to the construction of a local dam. The mock trial graduate thought mock trials would be a good way to teach English, organizational skills and advocacy. The advocacy skills would prepare them for learning and following procedures as they worked on presenting their concerns to the rest of the world, and to officials in their area regarding the construction of the dam. She said that her mock trial background was very helpful and her students loved the activity.

The retired teacher said that sometimes people think that mock trials are only for people who want to be lawyers. He's never held that belief. This application of the materials shows how they are effective vehicles for learning organization, critical thinking, following procedures and developing powers of persuasion. He passed this story along to let everyone who has participated in the high school mock trials that the benefits of the program are spreading around the world.

We are glad he decided to share this story!

Another story came our way about a mock trial alumni. A teacher forwarded an e-mail from a student, now attending college and preparing to take the LSAT test to enter law school. " I wanted to thank you for sparking and cultivating my interest in debate, public speaking and law. I often think of all the time we spent perfecting my opening and closing arguments and the advice you gave me over my four years at high school. As I prepare my seven minute speech for tomorrow's debate, I can't help but think of Mock Trial and the state competition in Springfield. Had you not been such a great mentor and help, I probably would not have had the courage to even try out for the Debate nor would I have the interest to apply for law school."

News You Can Use!

The Southern Poverty Law Center's "Teaching Tolerance" publication has announced the release of The Power of Words, a new curriculum that offers ten standards-based lesson plans to help students critically examine slurs, epithets and other biased language. Appropriate for grades 10 and up. The entire curriculum offering is available at www.teachingtolerance.org/words

Law Day 2005 REMINDER

The theme for Law Day 2005 will be The American Jury: We The People In Action.

The American Bar Association offers free Law Day Planning Guides that contains ideas for your own celebration and encourages you with success stories from around the country. It also offers items you can order to support your celebrations: posters, balloons, t-shirts, and mock trial scripts. To request your free planning guide and join the Law Day Network, call 312.988.5735 or visit www.lawday.org.

Mock Trial Academy Registrations Open

The Mock Trial Academy is an annual trial advocacy conference for high school students which is held at North Central College, just outside of Chicago. Last year's session, the first to be held, was a success, and the Academy will be conducting another session this summer, June 16-26, 2005. The Academy offers high school students an opportunity to develop and/or improve their trial advocacy skills. Mock Trial Academy offers classes for both beginning and advanced students. The Mock Trial Academy is endorsed by the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA), the governing body of intercollegiate mock trial. For additional information about the Mock Trial Academy, including student reviews of the 2004 Session (see "2004 Session" link) and application information, can be found at: www.mocktrialacademy.com

Illinois State Bar Association

424 South Second Street, Springfield, Illinois 62701

217/525-1760 Toll Free 800/252-8908

www.isba.org