Mock Trial Team
Mock Trial is hosted by the Justice Teaching Center for Civic Learning. Each year, JTC provides a fictional court case, which is prepared for trial by student attorneys and witnesses.
What is Mock Trial?
The Justice Teaching Center for Civic Learning, formerly known as the Florida Law-Related Education Association’s Competition, is an academic competition in which a team of 6-8 students simulate the roles of both attorneys and witnesses in a fictional trial setting. Students work with attorney coaches for approximately five months to prepare for their roles.
The team is coached by former prosecutor Chasity Branham with assistance from 10th Judicial Circuit Judge Melissa Gravitt. The team is repeatedly complemented for their amazing capabilities and poise under pressure, and have won many awards and accolades attesting to their skills.
The Lakeland Christian School Mock Trial Team has advanced to represent the Tenth Judicial Circuit at the Florida High School Mock Trial Competition since 2014. In 2017-2018, the team advanced to the final round, placing second overall at the Florida High School Mock Trial Finals, and making history for the Tenth Judicial Circuit. As a result of this finish in the third largest state in the nation, the team was invited to compete against teams from the US, Canada, Ireland, England, and South Korea in the Empire World Competition in New York in November of 2018. The 2018-2019 team also advanced to the final round in the Florida High School Mock Trial Competition, placing in second.
2019 Mock Trial Team
Team Members: Abby Branham, Ama Fosu, Annie Bolter, Trent Curtis, Keaton Walding, Jace Gravitt, Faith Nagy, Lucy Bolter, Seth Martinez, Tag Hunt, Riley Rhoden, Carter Cerekwicki, and Haley Caylor
Coaches: Chasity Branham and Melissa Gravitt
The Lakeland Christian School Mock Trial team won the Circuit 10 Mock Trial Competition at the Bartow Courthouse, earning a spot at the Florida Mock Trial State Competition, after competing against the George Jenkins Law Academy and the Bartow Academy of Legal Studies. For the sixth year in a row, the LCS Mock Trial Team represented the 10th Judicial Circuit at the Florida Mock Trial State Competition. The team finished in second place at the State Competition for the second consecutive year. In addition to their second place finish, the team won the Stephen P. Shenkman Professionalism Award. Senior Abby Branham won the Best Attorney award.
2018 Empire World Competition
Team Members: Abby Branham, Ama Fosu, Sam Riley, Camryn Wineinger, Keaton Walding, Trent Curtis, Faith Nagy, Annie Bolter, Lucy Bolter, Emily Branham, Jace Gravitt, and Hunter Patteson
Coaches: Chasity Branham and Melissa Gravitt
After placing second at the Florida State Mock Trial Competition in the spring of 2018, the Lakeland Christian School Mock Trial team was invited to the Empire World Competition.
The competition in New York included a field of forty teams comprised of participants from eight different countries, including the US, Canada, Ireland, England, and South Korea.
The LCS Mock Trial Team ended with a record of six wins and two losses. The team celebrated a remarkable 6th place overall finish. Individual awards included the Second Place Best Witness award to Keaton Walding and the Tenth Place Best Attorney Award to Abby Branham.
Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors for your generosity and support. Lakeland Christian School’s Mock Trial Team is so grateful to the individuals and businesses that have helped us participate in the World Championship. Our program strives to develop world-class thinkers who can discern and articulate truth; this opportunity represents an extraordinary platform for gaining experience and for representing our values.
Capital City Bank
Keishun Cassell Allstate Agency
Kilgroe, Frantzis, Quinty & Associates
Rickard A. Lopez, P.A.
Green Construction Services
Kenneth Hutto & Associates
Sisco Law
Peretson & Myers, P.A.
Early Green Transport, Inc.
GMF Steel Group
Valenti Law
Insurance Office of America
RIG Construction and Roofing
Haines City Fire Extinguisher Service
Regions Facility Services
Craig A. Mundy, P.A.
2018 State Championship
Team Members: Victoria Benson, Annie Bolter, Abby Branham, Ama Fosu, Trent Curtis, Keaton Walding, Jace Gravitt, Faith Nagy, Reese Overholt, and Sam Riley.
Coaches: Chasity Branham and Melissa Gravitt
The 2018 LCS Mock Trial Team earned a spot at the Florida Mock Trial State Competition in Orlando after competing against the George Jenkins Law Academy and the Bartow Academy of Legal Studies at the regional level. The team secured a place in the final round of the State Competition, placing second overall. As a whole, the team won the Stephen P. Shenkman Professionalism Award. Senior Abby Branham won Overall Best Attorney, the highest award for student attorneys at the competition.
The second place finish at the Florida Mock Trial State Competition earned this team a spot at the Empire World Competition that fall.
Watch the 2018 Team in the final round of the State Competition. The LCS Mock Trial team placed second in the State of Florida at the 2018 Championship held in Orlando, Florida.
Interested in a class?
We offer an extensive selection of dual-enrollment classes that provide students with knowledge and experience about the judicial system. With many classes, interested students often find themselves taking one law class a semester from Sophomore year to graduation!