Grant places second in mock rapper trial
March 17, 2010
Grant High School's 11-member team (click on the picture to see all of the students) took second in the Oregon mock trial competition.
The court case was fictitious, but the competition was real for students who participated in the annual Oregon mock trial contest. Grant High School finished second of 18 qualifying teams, with Lincoln High School also competing.
Teams performed court trials that were evaluated by a panel of real-life judges, attorneys and educators. Before competing, the teams were provided with detailed case materials that set up a scenario and established the “facts” of the case.
This year’s contest, held March 12 and March 13 at Hatfield Federal Courthouse in Portland, centered on a
rap artist charged with inciting a riot and arson. Students divided into roles representing both the defense and prosecution, including attorneys, witnesses, court clerk and bailiff, and played out the trial in front of the judging panel.
Catlin Gabel School finished first to qualify for a four-day
national meet that starts May 6.
Mock trial competitions are organized locally by
Classroom Law Project, a Portland nonprofit that works to engage students in civic issues.
