Chicago Bound !
CTE District Mock Trial Team Advances to National Competition
Crowley ISD ’ s District Court Mock Trial Team will advance to the national competition in Chicago this summer after earning one of the two top spots at the state competition in Austin .
Students from the Bill R . Johnson Career and Technology Education ( CTE ) Center competed against about 40 other District Court Mock Trial teams from across the state at the YMCA Texas Youth in Government State Conference Jan . 26-28 .
Written by Megan Middleton
District Court Team Members include :
• Attorney Toiya Smith
• Attorney Christina Gonzales
• Witness Amaya Ronczyk
• Witness Everett Chace
• Witness Tionne Wilson
• Bailiff Ty ’ Reke Goodman-Harris
Crowley ISD ’ s County Court Mock Trial Team was chosen as the top team in County Court from among about 30 teams across the state . Students from that team were named as the top Prosecuting Attorneys in the County Court competition .
County Court Team Members include :
• Attorney Robert Gortney
• Attorney Mynista Burnett
• Witness Daisy Gomez
• Witness Meredith Jones
• Witness Ana Guadian
• Judge Angelica Melendez
Markeith West , Crowley ISD ’ s CTE law enforcement department chairman , said he is proud of the students ’ hard work and dedication in preparing for these competitions . They practiced multiple days a week , including on Sundays leading up to the event .
Students receive a case and prepare to argue both sides – prosecution and defense . They don ’ t know until just before competing which side they will be asked to argue . Students play various roles , including attorneys , witnesses and judges . “ Competitions like this can show students if this is something they really want to do ,” West said . “ You really prepare the case like you are an attorney .”
West started the CTE Center ’ s Mock Trial Team just three years ago .
The District Court team poses from inside the court room at the YMCA Texas Youth Government State Conference in Austin .
Toiya Smith , a senior and attorney on the team , said students must break down the case as an attorney would in real life , looking for flaws and ensuring it was handled legally . Having a professional demeanor in the courtroom is also key , Smith said .
She said the success of the team is a result of everyone ’ s extra time and hard work .
“ It doesn ’ t feel real ,” Smith said of the win , with tears in her eyes . “ We ’ ve worked so hard all three years . Now it all pays off – it feels so great . I ’ m just so excited .”
Smith said being in mock trial has confirmed for her that she wants to become an attorney . “ It ’ s showed me I really do want to do this ,” she said . West noted that professional attorneys Elan Longstreet and Matthew Jackson have volunteered their time to help prepare students for these competitions .
The National Judicial Competition is scheduled for July 31 – Aug . 4 .
The team was honored at the CISD Board of Trustees meeting in February .
10 CROWLEY ISD CONNECTIONS | Spring 2017