A team from Highland Park High School won the 2008 ISBA Mock Trial Invitational on March 1 and will represent Illinois during the National High School Mock Trial Championship in May at Wilmington, Del.

Highland Park subsequently earned School of the Week honors, and the mock trial team was invited to appear March 7 on the Fox News morning television show from Chicago.

Eight teams were finalists in Springfield from a field of 48 that entered the ISBA competition conducted by the Committee on Law Related Education for the Public.

Boylan Catholic High School of Rockford placed second, defeating Timothy Christian High School of Elmhurst in the semi-final rounds.

The invitational was based on the hypothetical case of “People v. Dixon” in “Lincoln County” court. “Kim Dixon” was on trial for aggravated battery after breaking the arm of “Criss Lyman.”

Students from participating schools filled roles of prosecutors, defense attorneys, litigants and witnesses. In addition to their teachers, local attorneys provided coaching on legal skills.

Among the coaches was 17th Circuit Judge Paul A. Logli, former Winnebago County state’s attorney, who chairs the ISBA Committee on Government Lawyers. His son, Ben Logli, was Boylan’s defense counsel in the final round.

Highland Park’s winning team also placed first in the law test portion of the mock trial program. Evanston Township, Glenbard South and St. Charles East received honorable mentions.

Individuals who received recognition are Ben Logli of Boylan, Dan Denby of Timothy Christian, Sami Beckman and Kunal Patel of St. Charles East.