OKEECHOBEE — Classical Conversation students from several groups took part in a mock trial at the Okeechobee County Court House on April 23.

Judge William Wallace presided over the case.

The Classical Conversations Mock Trial Notebook states, “The Classical Conversation Mock Trial is first and foremost conducted as an educational exercise. The primary objective of the exercise is that students apply the analytical, rhetorical, and critical thinking skills they have acquired through the study of formal logic. To the application of the canons of rhetoric.”

“The students are given all of the research material and are able to spend an entire semester learning how to make a persuasive case. Later, in Debate seminar within our higher Challenge programs, they will personally research and construct their own case. Mock trial is great preparation for the harder task of team policy debate.”

“An inordinate focus on the competitive nature of the event is to be discouraged; The benefit of this exercise is derived from the process, not the outcome.”

During the trial, the teams take turns representing both the defense and the prosecution.

In the first round, Kenady Hopkins and Anaiah Silvas from the Jupiter/Okeechobee team acted as prosecution attorneys, and Gabriel Lones and Maggie Rankin from Vero Beach served as attorneys for the defense.

Later, the teams switched sides, and Collins Shea and Maggie Rankin from Vero acted for the prosecution while Jason Sharkey and Jonathan Hopkins from Jupiter/Okeechobee served for the defense.

In both trials, the attorneys did terrific jobs and were well-prepared.

Unbiased members of the community were asked to serve as members of the jury, and in the first trial, they found the defendant not guilty, but in the second case, guilty. Judge Wallace said he found the defendant guilty in both trials.

“I was impressed with the performance of the students,” he said. “These young adults were really prepared and did exceptionally.”

The Jupiter/Okeechobee team also included Gavin Kimbark, Ian Marino and Lillian Stephenson. The group directors are Gretchen Kimbark and Pattie Stephenson.

The Vero Beach team also included Cooper Pride and Ethan Smeal. Their team is directed by Carolynn Lones.