March 09, 2006
Contact: Jeffrey Schrade (602)340-7268
Print Press Release

March madness started early this year as the results of last weekend's regional Arizona High School Mock Trial competitions were announced today. Over 86 teams from 43 Arizona high schools competed in the regional mock trial academic tournaments, and sixteen teams from 13 schools will advance to the Arizona High School Mock Trial Competition. The competition is a sponsored program of the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education in partnership with the State Bar's Young Lawyer Division. The state finals will be held on March 25, 2006 beginning at 8 a.m. at the Sandra Day O'Connor federal courthouse in downtown Phoenix.

“Each of the teams advancing faced tough competition at the Regional levels,” states Susan Nusall, Program Manager for the Foundation, “We are looking forward to a great state competition and for the winning team to represent us on the national level.”

This year's hypothetical case focuses on whether a high school and its track coach should be liable for wrongful death of a track student who died while using steroids to enhance his athletic performance.

The teams advancing to the Arizona high School Mock Trial Competition are:

About Arizona's High School Mock Trial Program
Currentlyin its 23rd year, the program offers students in grades 9-12 an opportunity to gain a first-hand view of our legal system by participating in a simulated trial. Through a partnership between the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education and the Young Lawyers of Arizona, teams work closely with practicing attorneys as the students prepare for the tournament.

Teams consist of six to eight students and a fictional case is released in November (download at www.azflse.org/mocktrial). Each team must learn both sides of the case and students must play the roles of both attorney and witness at trial. Regional tournament winners compete in the annual State Tournament held at the Sandra Day O'Connor Federal Courthouse in Phoenix. The winner of the State Tournament competes at the National Tournament which will be held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on May 11-13, 2006.

In addition to giving students a better understanding of the legal system, the Arizona High School Mock Trial Program increases awareness of the importance of law in our democratic society, strengthens understanding of fundamental rights under the U.S. Constitution and promotes increased confidence, poise, oral skills, and critical thinking skills
For additional information about the program, please visit the helpful websites below or contact Program Manager Susan Nusall at 602-340-7361 or via email at susan.nusall@azflse.org.

Helpful Websites:

• Arizona High School Mock Trial Program: http://www.azflse.org/MockTrial
• Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education: http://www.azflse.org
• State Bar of Arizona Young Lawyers Division: http://www.myazbar.org/SecComm/Sections/YL/

About the Foundation

The Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education plays a leading role in preparing Arizona youth for civic responsibility and providing access to justice for Arizona's poor. Each year, the Foundation reaches more than 100,000 Arizona school children through training teachers, school resource officers, and probation officers about our laws, justice system and the foundations of democracy. It is also the center of LawForKids.org, America's largest web site dedicated to teaching students about the law. The Foundation also grants funds to non-profit organizations that provide free legal assistance to the poor so all people in Arizona can have a voice in our justice system. In 2003, the Foundation helped 30,000 families receive free legal assistance and 800 schools to teach law related education.