Staff Writer
Teenage lawyers of the Fourth Judicial Circuit put their skills on display during the recent annual Teen Mock Trial Competition, with the Duval County team earning high praise.
The competition allows teen volunteers from Clay, Duval and Nassau counties who represent youth offenders in the circuit’s Teen Court programs to compete against one another.
“These kids work really hard,” said Lawrence Hills, Duval County Teen Court Program director. “I’m really proud of everything they’ve accomplished.”
The teams, mostly eighth and ninth graders, received the cases in November and dedicated themselves to preparing several times a week until crunch time, Hills said. Then they prepped daily.
Circuit and county judges preside over the competition. This year’s volunteers featured County Court Judge Tim Collins in Clay County, Circuit Judge Mallory Cooper in Duval County and Circuit Judge Robert Foster in Nassau County.
“Those kids are just amazing,” said Cooper, who presided for a third time over the competition. “They did some of the things as well as some of the attorneys we see every day.”
She considered it a compliment for the months of practice the teens invested in refining their courtroom presence.
“They hit on a lot of really important parts and you can tell they were prepared,” she said.
The Duval County Teen Court program team took home “Best Overall Team Award” in addition to several other individual awards, including those for “Best Prosecution Attorney,” “Best Defense Attorney” and “Best Defense Witness.”
Robert Lippelman, Demere Mason, Heather Solanka and Shelley Thibodeau served as coaches for the Duval team, while Dan D’Alesio of Shands Jacksonville and Assistant Public Defender Michael Kalil also participated.
Hills said the Teen Court program relies on these teenagers, who represent the state and guilty youth offenders when arguing punishments before a jury of teenage peers. While the volunteers gain courtroom experience, Hills said the court and juvenile system gain much needed space by keeping offenders out while still serving punishment.
Teen Court is designed as a diversion program for first-time, misdemeanor offenders from 10 to 17 years old, according to a description from the Fourth Judicial Circuit. The specially trained teens act as prosecutor, defense attorney, bailiff and jurors. An adult magistrate presides.
The program directs cases from the juvenile courts, allowing defendants, who have admitted guilt, to explain their involvement in the offense. If the defendant completes the sanctions imposed, no conviction will be listed on his or her record
Hills said he was looking forward to spending the next several years with the teenagers,
“They really are a great group,” he said.
Duval County
Best Prosecution Attorney: Tara Reifsnider
Best Defense Attorney: Elizabeth Miller
Best Defense Witness: Shreya Mohan
2nd Place Best Defense Attorney: Swetha Mohan
2nd Place Best Prosecution Witness: Ashley Irven
Nassau County
Best Prosecution Witness: Emma Priest
Clay
2nd Place Best Prosecution Attorney: Amy Nicotra
2nd Place Best Defense Witness: Rachel Sulzer
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