The SHS Mock Trial Team

Taylor Odle, Catrina Myers, Nancy June Inman

Austin Plymill, Timothy Haley, Kelsey Jones, Savannah Darnall

Steven Palmer, Jarrett Rausch, Marley Hannabass, Nick Luttrell

For the fourth time since 2003, the Springfield High School Mock Trial Team will compete for the top spot in the state.  The eleven-member team secured a berth in the State High School Mock Trial tournament by winning the District 6 Competition held at the Gallatin Courthouse February 12-13.

The High School Mock Trial Competition is an annual event sponsored by the Tennessee Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division.  Students from across the state compete as they assume the roles of attorneys and witnesses in a model case. While the case changes yearly and may concern either a civil or criminal matter, the 2010 Mock Trial model case involves a lawsuit concerning a faulty concrete floor.  Student plaintiff and defense teams battle to win a favorable a verdict by staging a virtual trial that includes opening and closing statements, direct and cross examinations of student witnesses, and the introduction and use of exhibits.  Area judges and lawyers act as the jury and award points for the testimony of student witnesses and for the legal skills and courtroom demeanor of student attorneys. 

At the district competition in Gallatin, the Springfield team had to battle back from a deficit to qualify for the Power Round, a final match-up between the top two teams in the district.  “We knew that we would have to turn in solid performances in our last few rounds to make it to the Power Round,” said Taylor Odle, the team’s lead plaintiff attorney.  Springfield earned the scores they needed to edge out one of two Beech High School teams for a spot in the Power Round, where they faced off against the second Beech Team.  Beech won the coin toss and chose to play their defense against Springfield’s plaintiff.  “We were ready to play either side,” said Savannah Darnall, who does double duty on the Springfield team, serving as both an attorney for the plaintiff and a witness for the defense.  “Our team goal from the first day of practice was to advance to the Power Round, win the district, and go to State.”

            The Springfield High Mock Trial Team includes Taylor Odle, Marley Hannabass, and Savannah Darnall serving as plaintiff attorneys.  Plaintiff witnesses are Timothy Haley, playing a business manager, Nick Luttrell, playing an expert witness, and Nancy June Inman, playing a real estate agent.

            At the bar as defense attorneys are Steven Palmer, Kelsey Jones, and Catrina Myers.   Defense witnesses are Jarrett Rausch, playing a general contractor, Austin Plymill, playing an expert witness, and Savannah Darnall, playing a construction supervisor.

            In addition to winning the district title of Outstanding High School Mock Trial Team, the SHS group brought home the award for Most Verdicts, and one team member was singled out for an individual award.  Nick Luttrell was named the Outstanding Plaintiff Witness for his portrayal of a civil engineer and expert witness.

Outstanding Plaintiff Witness Nick Luttrell testifies to an exhibit.

            The Springfield High School Mock Trial Team is coached by Clarksville Judge Lisa Richter and sponsored by SHS teachers Leslie Diehm and Tim Overstreet.  The team will compete in the Tennessee State Mock Trial competition in Nashville March 19-20.