Programs
Ohio High School Mock Trial
photos courtesy of Dave Liggett
Ohio Mock Trial High School Competition
About High School Mock Trial
Watch your students grow both academically and personally, right before your eyes! Students learn first-hand about the law, court procedures and the judicial system while also building critical 21st Century skills.
Ohio Mock Trial offers an innovative approach to learning the law and how our legal system functions. Guided by teachers and volunteer legal advisors, students participate in an original, unscripted simulated trial written by attorneys. High school students argue both sides of the case in real courtrooms across the state. The state finals are held in the Ohio Statehouse and the winner advances to the national competition.
Each year volunteer attorneys create an original case around a current constitutional issue important to students. Mock Trial teams work with an attorney or a judge to prepare their case – from both the plaintiff and defense perspective. Competitions at the district, regional and state levels are conducted in an actual courtroom and are scored by panels of lawyers and judges.
Mock Trial Objectives
- Improve critical thinking, reading, writing, public speaking and listening skills
- Develop understanding and appreciation for the law, court procedures, and the judicial system
- Understand constitutional rights and responsibilities
- Recognize and reward students’ academic and intellectual achievements
For questions, contact Danielle Wilmot at dwilmot@oclre.org or 614-485-3507.
Ohio Mock Trial Case
Stay tuned! The 2022-2023 case will be released in September!
Previous Cases
Looking for a prior year's case file? To view a complete list of case summaries from 1983-2022, click HERE. To order a prior year's case, please complete the order form HERE.
2021-22 State of Buckeye ex rel. Hollis Fitzpatrick v. Fran DeBier, et al.: Hollis Fitzpatrick was the owner of a family restaurant, Fitzpatrick’s, in downtown Harmony. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck the state of Buckeye in 2020, Fitzpatrick’s struggled financially and ultimately shut down. Hollis blames the government restrictions for the closure of their restaurant and is taking legal action to be compensated for their loss. This case asks students to consider whether the pandemic restrictions were so severe that they constituted a taking of Hollis Fitzpatrick’s property that requires just compensation. 2021-22 Case Capsule Video
2020-21 State of Buckeye v. Micah Opessa: In 2019, Micah Opessa pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter in the death of their former best-friend, Haumea Robins. A year into their sentence, Micah found out the eyewitness who saw Micah fleeing the crime recanted their testimony. Now, Micah has filed a motion to withdraw their guilty plea, claiming the prosecutor violated their constitutional rights when they knowingly withheld this information when they offered Micah a plea deal. The Supreme Court ruling in Brady v. Maryland requires the prosecution to overturn exculpatory evidence during trial. In this Mock Trial case, students will argue whether this precedent also applies to plea negotiations. 2020-21 Case Capsule Video
2019-20 Rory Maldonado v. Blake Varga et al: During their senior year at Trillium High School, Rory Maldonado was suspended by Principal Blake Varga for organizing and hosting a gun rights demonstration. The demonstration occurred off campus at a nearby public park but Principal Varga claimed that Rory’s demonstration caused disruption at the school. Rory believed Principal Varga simply disagreed with Rory’s position on gun rights, which led to the suspension. Now, Rory is suing Principal BlakeVarga and the school for a deprivation of their First Amendment Rights. 2019-20 Case Capsule Video
2018-19 State of Buckeye v. Quinn Woolf: Quinn Woolf: High school student, Quinn Woolf, was arrested on charges of aggravated assault and telecommunications fraud for stealing $120 million from the State of Buckeye’s pension fund. The state is basing its charges on drone footage of the Woolf’s backyard captured from 400 feet in the air that was later enhanced. Defense has moved to exclude the drone footage, claiming that police violated Quinn’s Fourth Amendment protection against unlawful search and seizure. 2018-19 Case Capsule Video
For more information on how to become involved with the Ohio High School Mock Trial program, please contact Danielle Wilmot, dwilmot@oclre.org 614-485-3507.
Mock Trial Competition
2022 State Champion
Congratulations to the 2022 Ohio High School State Champion, Talawanda High School! They will go on to represent Ohio at the National High School Mock Trial Championship, hosted virtually in Kalamazoo, MI May 5-7.
Thirty-one teams from twenty-five schools participated in the 2022 State Competition which took place over three days. It was a close competition and all participants should be proud of their hard work!
Thank you to The Ohio Channel for live streaming and recording the State Championship! You can watch the championship round below.
2022 Ohio Mock Trial – Student Awards
Congratulations to the teams that participated in the 2022 Ohio High School Mock Trial Competition! Throughout the competition students shined in their roles as attorneys and witnesses, some even won awards for their hard work. The documents below provide a complete list of award winners from each level of competition.
District Competition Outstanding Attorneys
District Competition Outstanding Witnesses
Regional Competition Outstanding Attorneys
Regional Competition Outstanding Witnesses
State Competition Outstanding Attorneys
State Competition Outstanding Witnesses
Thank You
The 2022 Ohio High School Competition has officially concluded. Thank you to the many volunteers who generously donated their time to make this competition a reality! With over 300 volunteers we were able to serve approximately 2,000 students across the state. This competition would not have been possible without you, and we are grateful for your support.
For more information on how to become involved with the Ohio High School Mock Trial program, please contact Danielle Wilmot, dwilmot@oclre.org 614-485-3507.
Team Registration Pricing
Member Rate |
$170 per team |
Non-Member Rate |
$265 per team |
For more information on how to become involved with the Ohio High School Mock Trial program, please contact Danielle Wilmot, dwilmot@oclre.org 614-485-3507.
Professional Development
The 2022 Mock Trial Conference will take place on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. Introductory and “Deep Dive” tracks will be available. Registration information and additional conference details are forthcoming.
If you are interested in learning more about Ohio High School Mock Trial, please contact the program coordinator, Danielle Wilmot (dwilmot@oclre.org).
Annual Lori Urogdy Eiler Award
The Eiler Award for Mock Trial Coaching Excellence is named in honor of Lori Eiler, retired teacher and former mock trial advisor at Shaw High School in East Cleveland. Every year, mock trial students nominate advisors who, like Lori, connect with and challenge them to achieve individual personal best.
Presented annually, the Lori Urogdy Eiler Award recognizes an Ohio Mock Trial teacher, legal advisor, volunteer or administrator whose dedication and selflessness in giving their time, as well as their knowledge and skills, makes a difference in the lives of students. Eligible candidates are those who regularly inspire and motivate teams to outstanding performance, while also modeling civility and holding their students accountable for the same. Candidates demonstrate an ability to connect with team members as individuals, helping them to overcome obstacles to success and leading them to achieve an individual "personal best." Nominations are reviewed and voted on by the OCLRE Board of Trustees and the award will be presented at the Fall Mock Trial Conference, typically held in September.
To nominate someone for the 2022 Lori Urogdy Eiler Award, please complete this form HERE.
The 2021 Eiler Award is presented posthumously to Jim Holmes, a longtime and beloved teacher and mock trial advisor at Danville High School (Knox County). Jim passed away in February 2021. Jim was nominated by current Danville teacher and team advisor, Hunter Webster:
“Jim was a faithful servant to the Danville community as both a teacher and volunteer firefighter from the early sixties to his retirement in 2005. He founded Danville's mock trial program in 1994 and methodically built it to what it is today. He's the reason that a low-income public high school of some 170 students is competitive against high income schools and perennial state contenders. [Jim] continued serving as advisor for mock trial for nearly a decade after his retirement. The gravity of his impact is such that...we made the decision that one of our teams would always be named [in] his honor.”
OCLRE is pleased to recognize and extend gratitude to all teachers and team advisors. During what was a particularly challenging year for all, your commitment and encouragement meant so much to students. Current and former students nominated the following teachers/team advisors for the 2021 Eiler Award. Our sincere appreciation to all!
Zachary Hacker |
St. Ursula Academy |
Zachary Heck, Esq. |
Centerville High School |
Pablo Manon |
Dublin Jerome High School |
Catherine Marquard |
Walsh Jesuit High School |
Jacob Prindle |
Batavia High School |
Zach Wilkerson |
Westerville North High School |