Participants of Perrysburg Court Law & Government Explorer Post 2306
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Jennifer R. Meece, Secretary to Judge S. Dwight Osterud
Perrysburg Municipal Court
300 Walnut Street
Perrysburg, OH 43551-1455
Telephone: 419-872-7915; Fax: 419-872-7947
E-mail: jmeece@ci.perrysburg.oh.us
State Contact: Addie Natalie, State Coordinator
Ohio Center for Law-Related Education
Local: (614) 485-3504
Toll Free: (877) 485-3510
PERRYSBURG COURT EXPLORERS ADVANCE TO REGIONAL COMPETITION
February 8, 2010 – Perrysburg, Ohio – Perrysburg Court Law & Government Explorer Post 2306 was again declared Wood District champions of the high school mock trial competition held at the Common Pleas Court of Wood County in Bowling Green on February 5. The Post entered three teams, two of which advance to regional mock trial competition on Friday, February 26.
Jon Elder, a senior, was recognized by the mock trial judges as the Top Outstanding Attorney in the competition. Abdur Rafey Khan, a freshman, was named the Top Outstanding Witness. Team Penguins placed overall winner of this district competition.
Members of first place Team Penguins are Jordan Bench, Shelby Buzzell, Kaitlyn Ireland, Abdur Rafey Khan, Robert Kitson, Kristine Mallinson, Jessica Riesen and Kaylyn Weisenburger. Ireland and Khan received Outstanding Witness awards; Kitson and Weisenburger received Outstanding Attorney awards. They are coached by Kent Riesen and Dan Weiss.
Team Redhawks placed second. Team members are Morgan Bakies, Katie Cottle, Sam Cottle, Jon Elder, Russ Quick, Andrew Sironko, Syifa Sjah, Lauren Smith and Yufei Tian. Elder and Smith received Outstanding Attorney awards with Yufei Tian receiving an Outstanding Witness award. The Redhawks are coached by Peter R. Casey, III.
Members of Team Bearcats are Kat Dobbs, John Gadient, Peter Mackin, Addison Pope, Anne Redd, Steve Scheramic, Christian Weiss and Jessica Zhang. Redd received an Outstanding Attorney award. The team is coached by Judge Dwight Osterud.
Dr. Beth Rohrbacher is the team’s rostered teacher advisor. Pinky Edens served as drama consultant to all witnesses. Adam Nowland, a third year University of Toledo law student and Explorer alumnus, assisted with team preparation.
“This was supposed to be a rebuilding year,” said Judge Osterud. “However, it turned out to be one of our more successful years, at least in the district competition,” he said. “We are very proud of Jon Elder who received all sixes, the highest score possible, from all judges at the competition,” remarked Judge Osterud.
The Ohio High School Mock Trial Competition is in its 27th year. It is a statewide educational program designed to allow students to become aware of their constitutional rights and responsibilities. It provides students the opportunity to learn firsthand about the law, court procedures and the judicial system while also building interpretation, critical thinking and public speaking skills. Students who compete in the Mock Trial program come away with a greater understanding of not only the principles our legal system is founded on but of themselves and the skills they possess.
This year the Mock Trial competition analyzes the proper limitations upon students’ First Amendment rights in the digital world. A high school student enrolled in an advanced placement history class is suspended for violating a school disciplinary code after posting comments critical of the teacher on his/her personal blog. The student has filed a lawsuit against the school district alleging that the school impermissibly abridged off-campus speech. The trial focuses only upon whether the school is liable for violation of the student’s First Amendment Right of Free Speech.
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Participants of Perrysburg Court Law &
Government Explorer Post 2306
at the Wood District 2010 Ohio High School Mock Trial Competition on February 5, 2010.
Team Penguins: Attorney Dan Weiss, Shelby Buzzell, Abdur Rafey Khan, Kaylyn Weisenburger, Jessica Riesen, Kaitlyn Ireland, Robert Kitson, Jordan Bench, Kristine Mallinson and Dr. Beth Rohrbacher. [Not pictured is Attorney Kent Riesen]
Team Redhawks: Adam Noland, Sam Cottle, Lauren Smith, Jon Elder, Katie Cottle, Andrew Sironko, Yufei Tian, Russ Quick, Morgan Bakies and Dr. Beth Rohrbacher. [Not pictured is Attorney Peter R. Casey, III]
Team Bearcats: Judge Dwight Osterud, Peter Mackin, John Gadient, Anne Redd, Addison Pope, Jessica Zhang, Christian Weiss, Kat Dobbs, Steve Scheramic and Dr. Beth Rohrbacher.