Tennessee Bar Association Magazine
McCallie School of Chattanooga claimed the state high school mock trial championship title last month, defeating rival school Chattanooga Southeast Tennessee Home Education Association, in the 32nd annual Tennessee State High School Mock Trial Competition. The team now will represent Tennessee at the National High School Mock Trial Competition in Albuquerque, N.M., May 3-6.
The two-day state competition, which took place Friday and Saturday, involved 13 teams and 200 volunteers, including lawyers, law students and paralegals. In addition, sitting judges in the state presided over the trial rounds at the Metro Davidson County Courthouse in downtown Nashville. Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Gary Wade presided over the championship match Saturday evening.
The teams put their skills to the test arguing the fictitious case of Mid-South Insurance Liability Company, Inc. v. Denim N’More, Inc. – a civil case involving a struggling textile manufacturing business destroyed in a late night fire. Allegations of arson lead the insurer to deny any claims, while the owner denies any knowledge of or involvement in the incident. As always, the case involved its share of characters, including a secretary making $8,300 a month and a disgruntled employee who moonlights as a speed metal-bluegrass fusion musician, as well as a few clever “red herrings.”
It was McCallie’s second year in a row to compete in the championship round. It lost to White Station High School of Memphis last year. To reach the state competition, each team had to win its respective district competition in February.