15th annual 2025 high school mock trials
volunteers
thank you!
page contents
*welcome
*schedule
- please note the times of the 2nd and 3rd rounds start times are: 11:15 & 2:15 .
*new this year
Welcome Volunteers!
We could not begin to thank you enough for sharing your day with us on Wednesday! We could not host this tournament without you!
We had 22 schools register for our tournament this year. 11 schools asking to register 2 teams. Because of the limited space of the courthouse, we are only able to have 26 teams competing. It is a nice problem to have, but I always hate turning away teams because I think our tournament offers something that many cannot. But facts are facts, and so, here is a list of the teams that will be bringing 2 teams. I don’t know exactly the logistics for getting extra teams down here, but I will say, there has not been a year where something hasn’t happened. Broken buses, bad weather, sick kids, we have seen it all.
Usually, we either lose a court room or come up with a mixture of students on a team. If you have 2 teams, but did not make the list, I would love to know if it is possible to bring your other team. Chances are, we will need a team to fill in, history indicates that the odds are 100%. I don’t think we need 4 back up teams and the facilities really don’t have room for that many extra, but if you can bring an extra team and let us know, that is something we have not tried in the past that may smooth out some of the rough starts we find in the morning.
And so everyone knows. There is a 2-week jury trial set in February in a shooting case. They are expecting it to take at least 8 days. The two weeks of our local jury calendar includes two holidays. There is a chance we may be told that they will be using the courtroom the day of our tournament, even though it is a holiday, to get the trial completed. There was one year in which this happened before. If we are going to lose a courtroom, we have the option of not having two teams compete, or we may put them in a basement conference room for that round. We will have to play this by ear. I will not know until the Monday before the tournament if the trial is going or if they will have court during the holiday.
I can hardly believe we are already here again. We are excited to have another successful tournament and see everyone compete. Please let us know if you have any questions as we all prepare for February 12th.
From Matthew Koetters the Event Organizer.
We could not begin to thank you enough for sharing your day with us on Wednesday! We could not host this tournament without you!
We had 22 schools register for our tournament this year. 11 schools asking to register 2 teams. Because of the limited space of the courthouse, we are only able to have 26 teams competing. It is a nice problem to have, but I always hate turning away teams because I think our tournament offers something that many cannot. But facts are facts, and so, here is a list of the teams that will be bringing 2 teams. I don’t know exactly the logistics for getting extra teams down here, but I will say, there has not been a year where something hasn’t happened. Broken buses, bad weather, sick kids, we have seen it all.
Usually, we either lose a court room or come up with a mixture of students on a team. If you have 2 teams, but did not make the list, I would love to know if it is possible to bring your other team. Chances are, we will need a team to fill in, history indicates that the odds are 100%. I don’t think we need 4 back up teams and the facilities really don’t have room for that many extra, but if you can bring an extra team and let us know, that is something we have not tried in the past that may smooth out some of the rough starts we find in the morning.
And so everyone knows. There is a 2-week jury trial set in February in a shooting case. They are expecting it to take at least 8 days. The two weeks of our local jury calendar includes two holidays. There is a chance we may be told that they will be using the courtroom the day of our tournament, even though it is a holiday, to get the trial completed. There was one year in which this happened before. If we are going to lose a courtroom, we have the option of not having two teams compete, or we may put them in a basement conference room for that round. We will have to play this by ear. I will not know until the Monday before the tournament if the trial is going or if they will have court during the holiday.
I can hardly believe we are already here again. We are excited to have another successful tournament and see everyone compete. Please let us know if you have any questions as we all prepare for February 12th.
- Maine South High School (2nd Team Invitation-Accepted)
- Normal Community High School (2nd Team Invitation-Accepted)
- Normal West High School (2nd Team Invitation-Accepted)
- Whitney M. Young Magnet High School (2nd Team Invitation-Accepted)
- Adlai E Stevenson High School
- Bartlett High School (Bringing a 2nd Team)
- Bloomington High School
- Boylan Catholic School
- Chicago Christian High School
- College Preparatory School of America [CPSA]
- Crescent MCCA
- De La Salle Institute
- Dunlap High School
- Evanston Township High School (Bringing a 2nd Team)
- Homewood-Flossmoor High School (Bringing a 2nd Team)
- LaSalle Peru Township High School
- Maine South High School
- Niles North
- Niles West High School
- Normal Community High School
- Normal West High School
- Pittsfield High School
- Southland College Prep High School
- St. Charles East High School
- Whitney M. Young Magnet High School
- York Community High School
From Matthew Koetters the Event Organizer.
new this year
Parking Deck Passes
Available for volunteers who do not have a monthly pass.
Be sure to find Mary.
Available for volunteers who do not have a monthly pass.
Be sure to find Mary.
reminders
Law & Justice Center Guidelines for all Visitors
Please know that each person will be required to pass through security. This means that it may take a while for each team and visitors to come through the line. I'm not sure that we have had this requirement in years past. This will take time.
With that said, please know that the doors open at 8:00 am. You are welcome to come any time after that. I encourage you to come early if your schedule allows. More details to come on check-in.
With that said, please know that the doors open at 8:00 am. You are welcome to come any time after that. I encourage you to come early if your schedule allows. More details to come on check-in.
Cell Phones Guidelines for all visitors
Please be sure all students and all visitors are aware of these guides.
From our Court Security Chief Officer:
* Cell phones are OK as long as everyone understands not to be using them in the courthouse except for school business.
* No videos, pictures, texting, social media use, etc.
* If a school Administrator/Teacher wants to video some of the trials, that can be the only an exception.
* No videos, pictures, texting, social media use, etc.
* If a school Administrator/Teacher wants to video some of the trials, that can be the only an exception.
reminders for the competition
There is an important note that this year it is imperative to monitor the round time closely so that each team has an equal chance.
The rounds begin promptly at 9:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., and 2:15 p.m.
There will be a Coach/Team Lead meeting at 9:00 am on the 5th Floor Jury Assembly Room.
The Mock Trial tournament will be held in 3rd, 4th and 5th floor courtrooms of the Law & Justice Center located at 104 W. Front Street, Bloomington, Illinois.
There will be a Coach/Team Lead meeting at 9:00 am on the 5th Floor Jury Assembly Room.
The Mock Trial tournament will be held in 3rd, 4th and 5th floor courtrooms of the Law & Justice Center located at 104 W. Front Street, Bloomington, Illinois.
2025 Teams
last updated 2-3-2025
The preference for the 2nd Team slots have been given to the downstate schools and then the other 2nd team slots were drawn out of the hat.
[2nd Team-confirmed] = We were able to invite [4] 2nd Teams this year. We are restricted by courtroom space. Three of the four teams have accepted and will be posted on the tournament schedule. An update to come.
[2nd Team] = This school is volunteering to bring a second team.
This is the first year of hosting this option. This 2nd team will not be listed on the tournament schedule. If a scheduled team is unable to attend at the last moment due to illness or a bus breakdown, then one of these 2nd teams will be drawn out of a hat. The remaining teams are welcome to sit in the courtroom and observe or participate in an unstructured scrimmage somewhere in the building.
[2nd Team-confirmed] = We were able to invite [4] 2nd Teams this year. We are restricted by courtroom space. Three of the four teams have accepted and will be posted on the tournament schedule. An update to come.
[2nd Team] = This school is volunteering to bring a second team.
This is the first year of hosting this option. This 2nd team will not be listed on the tournament schedule. If a scheduled team is unable to attend at the last moment due to illness or a bus breakdown, then one of these 2nd teams will be drawn out of a hat. The remaining teams are welcome to sit in the courtroom and observe or participate in an unstructured scrimmage somewhere in the building.
Adlai E. Stevenson High
Bartlett High [2nd Team]
Bloomington High - NEW to the 2025 tournament
Boylan Catholic High School - NEW to the 2025 tournament
Chicago Christian High
College Preparatory School of America [CPSA]
De La Salle Institute
Dunlap High
Evanston Township High School - NEW to the 2025 tournament [2nd Team]
Homewood-Flossmoor High [2nd Team]
LaSalle Peru Township High
Maine South High [2nd Team-confirmed]
MCCA - NEW to the 2025 tournament
Niles North High - NEW to the 2025 tournament
Niles West High
Normal Community High [2nd Team-confirmed]
Normal West High [2nd Team-confirmed]
Pittsfield High
Southland College Prep High
St. Charles East High [2nd Team-Invited]
Whitney M. Young Magnet High
York Community High
Bartlett High [2nd Team]
Bloomington High - NEW to the 2025 tournament
Boylan Catholic High School - NEW to the 2025 tournament
Chicago Christian High
College Preparatory School of America [CPSA]
De La Salle Institute
Dunlap High
Evanston Township High School - NEW to the 2025 tournament [2nd Team]
Homewood-Flossmoor High [2nd Team]
LaSalle Peru Township High
Maine South High [2nd Team-confirmed]
MCCA - NEW to the 2025 tournament
Niles North High - NEW to the 2025 tournament
Niles West High
Normal Community High [2nd Team-confirmed]
Normal West High [2nd Team-confirmed]
Pittsfield High
Southland College Prep High
St. Charles East High [2nd Team-Invited]
Whitney M. Young Magnet High
York Community High
cle
the allure of using paralegals
Please join the MCBA in welcoming Professor and Attorney Thomas McClure. Professor McClure will present the model, economic advantages and highlights key to including a paralegal in your law office business.
The CLE will begin promptly right after the second round and no later than 12:45 pm. Please plan to come to the 5th floor jury assembly room for lunch and the CLE presentation.
The CLE will begin promptly right after the second round and no later than 12:45 pm. Please plan to come to the 5th floor jury assembly room for lunch and the CLE presentation.
Breakfast and Announcements and a Refresher
Time: 8:30 am at the 5th Floor Jury Assembly Room
Time: 8:30 am at the 5th Floor Jury Assembly Room
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Round 1 9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
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Round 2 11:15a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
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Round 3 2:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
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Awards announced from 4:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. Everyone is welcome to stay for these awards.
Time limits are imperative to the success of this program.
2025 mock trial forms and information
- MCBA-ISBA Regional Mock Trial Agenda - to come
- ISBA Mock Trial Website Resources - Problem, exhibits, handbook and additional resources here.
- Rules Summary - to come
- Evaluator Score Sheet
- Presiding Score Sheet
- Time Sheet
- Judges' Questionnaire
Appellate Court Oral Argument at ISU - march 25, 2025
The ISU Department of Politics & Government and the McLean County Bar Association will host oral argument for two cases before the Illinois Appellate Court for the Fourth District on Tuesday, March 25 in the Bone Student Center. The arguments are set for 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. Doors open at 9:00 a.m. for the first argument and 10:45 for the second argument. No one will be admitted once arguments begin.
The two cases set for argument are the following:
10:00 a.m. People v. Barton McNeil
11:00 a.m. People v. James Snow
This year, the argument will return to the Prairie Room, located on the second floor of the Bone Student Center, Illinois State University.
10:00 a.m. People v. Barton McNeil
11:00 a.m. People v. James Snow
This year, the argument will return to the Prairie Room, located on the second floor of the Bone Student Center, Illinois State University.
