Delaware High School Mock Trial Competition
Delaware’s High School Mock Trial program was started in 1991, and the 2021 competition will mark the 30th consecutive competition. In 1990, four school competed. Since then, the competition has grown and now between twenty-five and thirty high schools in the First State send teams to the competition.
The competition is open to all public and private schools in the state. Teams are provided a case problem to review, analyze, and try during the competition. The goal of the Competition is to enhance students’ citizenship skills. Students learn about our trial system and develop critical thinking and public speaking skills. The Mock Trial also provides teachers with a tool for authentic assessment. The Center tries to ensure that each case problem is fair and balanced, will be of interest to the student competitors, and will address important and relevant issues.
During the actual competition, the students play the roles of the witnesses and the attorneys and must try the case before a judge and scoring jury. There are four rounds, which take place over two days. After the final round, the students and coaches are invited to attend an awards banquet honoring the winners and participants. The Competition has historically been held in Wilmington, Delaware.
This year, we are doing things a little differently because of the pandemic. For the first time ever, the competition will take place as a virtual mock trial and will be fully remote.
The winner of the Delaware competition represents the state at the National High School Mock Trial Championship. Delaware has sent a representative to the National Competition for over twenty years.
For more information on this year’s competition, click here.
