Many contribute to trial competition

On March 7, the Region 1 Mock Trial competition was held. For over 20 years, Mock Trial competition has been offered to high school students and strives to increase their confidence, poise, oral skills, critical thinking skills, teamwork skills and provide the opportunity to learn from practicing attorneys and judges.
 
It is an enriching experience that was provided this year through the generosity of the following volunteers: The Honorable Andrew Gould, Presiding Superior Court Judge, allowed the use of the courtrooms; Judge Phil Hall from the Court of Appeals, Division 1, drives to Yuma each year to judge the competition; Judge Maria-Elena Cruz; Judge John Nelson; Judge Kathryn Stocking-Tate and Judge Larry Kenworthy volunteered to judge the Saturday rounds; County Attorney Jon Smith and Public Defender Michael Breeze for their support and organization.
 
Also, Beverly Frame, Clerk of the Court, provided the jury assembly rooms; Yuma County General Services Bob Lawson, Cecil Roach and employees arranged the jury assembly room for a Saturday morning; Court Security Director Donnie Jobe and his officers provided court security; teacher coaches Steve DeDecker from Yuma Catholic, Kristie Wiencek from Yuma High and Bill Young from Lake Havasu gave their time and energy in organizing their teams.
 
Also, attorney coaches Edward Feheley, Bill Kerekes, Kristi Riggins, Jeanne Vatterott-Grogan, Tom Jones and Heather Wellborn gave their time in meeting with and instructing their teams; Sandra Bravo and Dolores Smith prepared the program brochures and documents; Heritage Jewelers provided the first and second place awards, Esther’s Good Eats provided a fresh and delicious lunch; Channel 11 and Channel 13 reported on the event.
 
Also, the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education and the Young Lawyers Division sponsored Mock Trial at the regional and state levels, and the Yuma County Bar Association and Yuma Traffic Survival School gave generously at our local level.
 
Most importantly, we'd like to thank the students who dedicated many hours outside of their studies to learn, analyze, compose and deliver oral arguments in front of Arizona court judges. Thank you to all and I hope that Mock Trial Regionals 2010 will see even more high schools participating and taking advantage of this opportunity.

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THERESA FOX MOCK
Trial Coordinator, Region 1
Yuma