Decorah's Mock Trial Team

DRC Sponsor: Don Holmertz

After an exceptionally successful season, Decorah Middle School Mock Trial participants Jillian Volz, Noah Potvin, Kinley Leliefeld, Spencer Christensen, Colin Thompson, Naomi Kutz, and Atticus Raabe will attend our noon meeting to explain how the Mock Trial competition works, and how they prepare. One of their coaches, Carole Sand, on the cusp of retirement, will join us as well.

Iowa has the largest middle school Mock Trial program in the country with around 130 teams competing each fall. Decorah sends four teams to the Regional competition in Waterloo, two 7th Grade and two 8th Grade teams. Students work throughout the fall in exploratory classes to analyze a civil or criminal case and learn how to portray a witness and attorney. They collaborate to write scripts of direct and cross examinations for witnesses plus openings and closings. They also learn how to handle themselves in a courtroom, including objections and rules of procedure. Decorah often does well at Regionals and typically sends two teams to the state competition in Des Moines, where Decorah students have won many trophies and awards for outstanding performances. 

Decorah Rotarian Steve Belay was one of the first of many community members who have helped with Mock Trial over the years.

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**Please complete your meal sign-up prior to the meeting, preferably not later than close of business Monday. Our face-to-face meeting will be hosted at the VFW. The meal sign-up, meeting announcment, and any other logistical information will be distributed in advance to all members by email.