Street Law Program Participates in the Gold E. Locks Mock Trial

KIPP high school students from the Street Law program participated in the Gold E. Locks Mock Trial on Friday, May 5, at the Tulsa County Courthouse for this year’s Law Day activities. The Street Law committee worked with the students to serve as the trial's prosecuting attorneys, defense attorneys, and witnesses. Committee members Pierre Robertson, Kara Vincent, and Eric Strocen assisted the students as they presented and defended their case to the judge and jury. The Jury included Savannah Shelby, KIPP High School Debate Coach, Street Law Committee members Colten Kidd, Brendon Franklin, and Tami Williams, volunteer Kevinn Matthews, TCBF Law Day Committee Chairs, Judge Martha Rupp Carter and Mary Clement. Judge Ann Keele presided over the trial.

Before the trial, students and volunteers had lunch in the conference room at the Public Defenders Office.

Matthews, Eugene Flynn, and Stephanie Jackson. Members of the Street Law Committee include program co-chairs Pierre Robertson and Kara Vincent, Eric Strocen, Anna Wolfe, Cheyenne Barnard, Colten Kidd, Victoria Groves, and Tami Williams.

Street Law will resume in the Fall at KIPP University Prep High School, and sponsors are needed. Don't hesitate to get in touch with Tami Williams if you want to volunteer or financially support the program in the 23-24 fiscal year.

Volunteers and students listen to Judge Keele.

First Assistant Lora Howard and Judge Keele spent time with the students answering questions and educating them about the skills one needs to be a lawyer and how making good choices in high school and college is imperative to set oneself up for success as an adult and attorney. Judge Keele mentioned the importance of integrity and honesty.

The students worked outside the Street Law class time to prepare themselves and put on an educated and practiced courtroom scenario. The prosecuting team presented their facts confidently, and the witnesses were brilliant and honest in portraying the victims. The defense team zealously defended their client and checked the prosecution when they felt their witness was being treated unfairly. Never during the trial did the students try to present an alternate story line or justify wrong behaviors. Ultimately, Goldie Locks was found guilty of unlawfully and knowingly entering and remaining in a dwelling known as the Three Bears’ House and not guilty of unlawfully and intentionally damaging a chair, the property of Baby Bear.

The Street Law Committee would like to thank these financial program supporters: Graves McLain, Moyers Martin, McAfee & Taft, Ken Underwood, and the TCBF Community Outreach Committee. Another big thank you to those who volunteered for a lesson or the mock trial: Judge Ann Keele, Sgt Ashley Kite, Simon Falokun, Kevinn

Prosecuting Team: Cayden Cato & Keondre West

Judge Keele explains why the rule of law is essential and what skills one needs to be an effective attorney.