Mock Trial is experiencing courtroom victories. A group of students work together most Saturdays preparing for a State competition of performing a realistic court case in two rounds.

There are two teams, a gold and a green, that both placed in the first round of competition. The group is sponsored by Susan Hill, social studies teacher, and Bob Schmidt, retired lawyer. Green team came in 4th place and the gold team was middle-ranked after the first round competition on Jan. 25. The teams are doing well this year and both have a good chance of moving on to regional competition, Mar. 6 and 8, if they perform well at second round, Feb. 22.

"Both teams have a chance at going to regionals, and if they both do we will mix players together," said Hill.

Teams receive a case from the Bar Ass. of Metropolitan St. Louis, the competition sponsor. Case materials include overviews of the problem, witness statements and evidence, which teams use to argue their side.

Seven from each team compete in each round, four as lawyers and three as witnesses. There is also one timekeeper per team. Witnesses learn their statements and prepare to answer questions on the stand, while lawyers handle opening and closing statements and witness examinations.