Lakewood H.S. Wins State Mock Trial, Heads to Nationals May 6–8

Lakewood High School students celebrate their victory with Justice Martinez (far left) and a shiny trophy after winning the CBA High School Mock Trial Championship.

Lakewood High School’s mock trial team took first in state, defeating former state champ Wm. Jackson Palmer High School at the Colorado Bar Association’s State High School Mock Trial Competition. There were 22 finalist teams. More than 80 teams from around the state competed in this year’s program.

In the final round, Lakewood faced off in the courtroom against Palmer High School. Colorado Supreme Court Justice Alex Martinez presided over the championship round.

"I have often heard young adults express appreciation for their mock trial experience, years earlier, recognizing the experience as opening their eyes to their potential," said Justice Martinez.

The Lakewood team will travel to Philadelphia, Pa. May 6–8 for the National High School Mock Trial Tournament. Representing Colorado, the team will compete against 44 other states, U.S. provinces and a team from South Korea.

"This team is made up of seniors who have been working toward this a long time. They’re thrilled to be going to nationals," said attorney coach Jeff Kelson.

Teams traveled from across the state to El Paso County Judicial Building in Colorado Springs for the annual competition Friday and Saturday, March 12–13. Students have all been studying the same, fictitious case since the fall. In each round, they had to be ready to perform either the prosecution or defense side of the case, raising objections and defending clients before real judges.

The El Paso County Court and El Paso County Bar Association hosted this year’s state finals. More than 200 volunteers, besides the 100-plus coaches and 200-plus scoring panelists, assisted Carolyn Gravit, director of CBA Public Legal Education and CBA program manager Meghan Bush.

The championship round was scored by U.S. District Court Judge Christine Arguello, Colorado Women’s Bar Vice President Kara Veitch, Asian Pacific American Bar President Dennis Kaw, Colorado Springs Vice Mayor Larry Small and CBA Litigation Council’s Alden Hill.

Trustees Tour New Denver Justice Center

Members of the DBA Board of Trustees toured the new Denver Justice Center Complex at 490 West Colfax Avenue (just west of the Denver Mint) while it was under construction. President John Baker, President-Elect Stacy Carpenter and Past President Mark Fogg attended this historic gathering.

The 488,000-square-foot VanCise–Simonet Detention Facility is scheduled to be completed soon. The five-story, 310,000-square-foot Lindsey-Flanigan Courthouse will be ready for occupancy in July. The jail and courthouse cost approximately $159 million and $136 million, respectively, according to The Denver Post.

Check out the June issue for an in-depth look into what to expect from the new Justice Center.

Crowded into the small hall between the holding cells and the courtroom, DBA Deputy Executive Director Greg Martin and Trustees Mary Beth Sobel, Mark Fogg, Stacy Carpenter, Paul Chessin, John Baker, Dan Sweetser and Dan Vigil wait to get back into the courtroom.	The group stopped for a brief photo op above the main entrance. Pictured left to right are: Chuck Turner, Stacy Carpenter, Dianne Van Voorhees, Greg Martin, Mark Fogg, Richard Strauss, Denise Richardson, Paul Chessin, John Baker, Randall Livingston, Mary Beth Sobel, Dan Vigil and Dan Sweetser.

DBA Past President Mark Fogg and President-Elect Stacy Carpenter had a chance to chat as they walked the long underground hall between the jail and the courts. No longer will inmates and witnesses walk the same halls, as occurs daily with the current setup.	DBA President John Baker stands in the unfinished plaza, facing southwest near 14th Street, at the end of the tour.