Tulsa County High Schools Battle in Final Round of the Oklahoma Bar Association Mock Trial Competition

Two Tulsa County high schools once again battled in the final round of the Oklahoma Bar Association mock trial competition recently in the Ceremonial Courtroom in the Federal Courthouse in Tulsa. For the second straight year, Owasso High School edged out Jenks High School for the title. This is the third time in six years that the two teams have competed in the Finals with Jenks winning in 2017. Co-sponsored by the Oklahoma Bar Association Foundation, the 43 year old competition places high school students in actual courtrooms, taking on the roles of attorneys and witnesses in a fictional case. The trials are presided over by actual judges and attorneys where individual and team performances are evaluated. Over 300 attorneys and judges volunteered statewide to the program, contributing their time and expertise. Owasso’s victory marked an undefeated season for the team. This was

Owasso’s ninth straight appearance in the Finals, and the Rams’ fifth State Championship in six years. Both are OBA records.

This year's case involved a murder trial for a individual charged with shooting randomly off highway overpasses with the defendant claiming not guilty by reason of insanity for their defense. Owasso’s team successfully defended the accused “Highway Menace”. Judging and scoring the Final Round was Judge Jane Wiseman and Judge Stacie Hixon of the Oklahoma Court of Appeals, Judge Mark Schwebke of Tulsa Municipal Court, and attorney Dan Crawford. Federal District Judge Shonn Irwin was the Presiding Judge of the trial. “The Mock Trial competition has grown, and now appeals to high school students who are interested in drama, debate, public speaking, art and journalism," said OBA Mock Trial Committee Chair Jennifer Bruner Soltani said. “This competition gives students a unique opportunity to develop public speaking, presentation and critical thinking skills in a trial format but also offers courtroom artist and journalist components. The experience is one of a kind for students, teachers, and legal community volunteers.”

The Legal Rams are coached by Tulsa Co. District Judge Daman Cantrell and attorneys Ken Underwood and Kaylind Baker. Teacher Sponsors are Terry Waller and Kyra Schmidt. Jenks is coached by teacher Dana Mackay and attorneys Mike Horn, Jacob Downs, Morgan Medders, Stacy Accord and Jenny Proehl-Day.

This is Underwood’s 10th year to volunteer for the program. He said, “the Owasso Mock Trial teams we coach are always focused, hardworking, kind and compassionate, and they always bring us joy. This year is no exception, and the members of the 2023 Mock Trial team are all Champions in Law and Champions in Life."

Schmidt commented that “these students have an incredible work ethic and practiced for months to learn the rules of the law as well as every aspect of this case. It was exciting to see that hard work pay off for this team, and I am extremely proud of them!”

Owasso senior Lauren Hughes won Best Witness award at the trial and junior Alyson Bushey the Best Attorney in the finals. For Jenks, Elaine Gao was voted Best Lawyer and Jacob Shaddock was best Witness.

Owasso will represent Oklahoma at the National Mock Trial Competition in Little Rock, AR in May.