2026 high school mock trials
volunteer evaluators & judges
Thursday, February 12, 2026
updated 2-12-2026
Dear Volunteer,
Thank you for giving of your time and talents!
We have a record total of 22 High Schools and 24 teams participating this year.
Please review the information below and note that the volunteer breakfast, lunch, training, and the CLE will be located in the basement of the Law & Justice Center this year. This is due to the increase in schools this year.
We have parking passes for those volunteers who park in the garage next to the Law & Justice Center this year!!! [Thanks to Frank Hoffman for many years of persistent suggestions!] When you enter the garage, please press the blue button to obtain a paper ticket. Once inside the building, please look for the envelope on the white board in the basement volunteer room.
Please watch for updates on this page.
Thank you again!
Thank you for giving of your time and talents!
We have a record total of 22 High Schools and 24 teams participating this year.
Please review the information below and note that the volunteer breakfast, lunch, training, and the CLE will be located in the basement of the Law & Justice Center this year. This is due to the increase in schools this year.
We have parking passes for those volunteers who park in the garage next to the Law & Justice Center this year!!! [Thanks to Frank Hoffman for many years of persistent suggestions!] When you enter the garage, please press the blue button to obtain a paper ticket. Once inside the building, please look for the envelope on the white board in the basement volunteer room.
Please watch for updates on this page.
Thank you again!
volunteers - schedule
updated 2-11-2026
All of the volunteer activities will be hosted in the basement of the Law & Justice Center.
The 2026 High School Mock Trials Tournament will be held in 3rd, 4th and 5th floor courtrooms of the Law & Justice Center located at 104 W. Front Street, Bloomington, Illinois. The volunteer schedule is listed below.
8.15 am - 9.15 am A continental breakfast will be served in the L&J Basement ESDA Room
8.30 am - 9.00 am A Volunteer Training and Refresher -
**A change of evaluation forms will be explained. This form appears to be easier for all involved. Here is the new form LINK.
9.00 am - High School Coach & Captains & Runners Meeting - Location Courtroom 5-A
9.15 am - Please find your seat in your assigned Court Room
9.30 am - 10.45 am Round 1 - at 10.45 am - please send your tabulated results with the runners to the 5th Floor - Room 507
11.15 am - 12.30 am Round 2 - at 12.30 am - please send your tabulated results with the runners to the 5th Floor - Room 507
12.45 am - 1.45 pm Free Lunch & CLE - please find your seat in the basement for the final round if you are staying
2.00 pm - 3.15 pm Round 3 - at 3.15 am - please send your tabulated results with the runners to the 5th Floor - Room 507
3.45 pm - 4.15 pm Awards - 5th Floor Jury Assembly Room
[If you have never stayed to observe the Awards, this is an awesome culmination of the day's activities. Please consider staying.]
8.15 am - 9.15 am A continental breakfast will be served in the L&J Basement ESDA Room
8.30 am - 9.00 am A Volunteer Training and Refresher -
**A change of evaluation forms will be explained. This form appears to be easier for all involved. Here is the new form LINK.
9.00 am - High School Coach & Captains & Runners Meeting - Location Courtroom 5-A
9.15 am - Please find your seat in your assigned Court Room
9.30 am - 10.45 am Round 1 - at 10.45 am - please send your tabulated results with the runners to the 5th Floor - Room 507
11.15 am - 12.30 am Round 2 - at 12.30 am - please send your tabulated results with the runners to the 5th Floor - Room 507
12.45 am - 1.45 pm Free Lunch & CLE - please find your seat in the basement for the final round if you are staying
2.00 pm - 3.15 pm Round 3 - at 3.15 am - please send your tabulated results with the runners to the 5th Floor - Room 507
3.45 pm - 4.15 pm Awards - 5th Floor Jury Assembly Room
[If you have never stayed to observe the Awards, this is an awesome culmination of the day's activities. Please consider staying.]
volunteers information
Please review and email Mary if your schedule needs have changed.
We are always welcoming more volunteers if you know an interested person.
[email protected]
We are always welcoming more volunteers if you know an interested person.
[email protected]
updated 2-11-2026
Anderson, Alyssa - Evaluator ONLY - Rounds 1&2
Apfelbaum, Larry - Evaluator/Judge - Rounds 1&2
Bardell, Miles - Judge - Rounds 1&2
Carter, Cayliee - Evaluator ONLY - Normal West Conflict - Rounds 1&2
Castagna, Laura - Evaluator ONLY - Round 1
Chapman, Todd - Judge or Evaluator - Normal Community Conflict - Rounds 2&3
Cruz, Kelsy - Evaluator - Round 1
DeLeon-Bond, P. Carolina - Evaluator/Judge - Rounds 1&2
DePew, Rusty - Judge - All Rounds
DeVivo, Jennifer - Evaluator ONLY - All Rounds
Donaldson, Erin - Evaluator ONLY - Normal Community Conflict - All Rounds
Eisner, Charles - Evaluator ONLY - All Rounds
Eves, Pablo - Judge - All Rounds
Farrell, Calli - Evaluator ONLY - All Rounds
Fredrick, Aaron - No Preference - Round 1
Hoffman, Frank - Judge - Rounds 1&2
Johnson, Ogde - Evaluator ONLY - Normal West Conflict - Rounds 1&2
Kapela, Karen - Evaluator ONLY - Rounds 1&2
Kearns, Jenna - Evaluator ONLY - Rounds 2&3
Kennedy, Hannah - Judge/Evaluator - Rounds 1&3
Kording, Scott - Judge - Cornerstone Conflict - Round 1
Lenckus, Sean - Judge - All Rounds
Mannen, Nicole - Evaluator ONLY - Rounds 1&2
Maulson, Wendy - Evaluator ONLY -Rounds 1&2
McClure, Thomas - Judge - Rounds 1&3
McKibbin, Ed - Either - All Rounds
Owen, Shannon - Either - Rounds 2&3
Patton, Jennifer - Judge - Round 3
Queen, Craig - Judge - Normal Community Conflice - Rounds 2&3
Ruble, Nicholas - Evaluator/Judge - Round 1
Shane, Josephine - Evaluator ONLY - Round 1
Stuckey, Jennifer - Evaluator ONLY -All Rounds
Trygstad, Jacob - Judge or Evaluator - All Rounds
Vasquez, Samantha - Anything needed - Rounds 1&2
Wallace, Stuart - Judge/Evaluator - Normal Community Conflict - All Rounds
Williams, Taylor - Evaluator ONLY - Round 2
Apfelbaum, Larry - Evaluator/Judge - Rounds 1&2
Bardell, Miles - Judge - Rounds 1&2
Carter, Cayliee - Evaluator ONLY - Normal West Conflict - Rounds 1&2
Castagna, Laura - Evaluator ONLY - Round 1
Chapman, Todd - Judge or Evaluator - Normal Community Conflict - Rounds 2&3
Cruz, Kelsy - Evaluator - Round 1
DeLeon-Bond, P. Carolina - Evaluator/Judge - Rounds 1&2
DePew, Rusty - Judge - All Rounds
DeVivo, Jennifer - Evaluator ONLY - All Rounds
Donaldson, Erin - Evaluator ONLY - Normal Community Conflict - All Rounds
Eisner, Charles - Evaluator ONLY - All Rounds
Eves, Pablo - Judge - All Rounds
Farrell, Calli - Evaluator ONLY - All Rounds
Fredrick, Aaron - No Preference - Round 1
Hoffman, Frank - Judge - Rounds 1&2
Johnson, Ogde - Evaluator ONLY - Normal West Conflict - Rounds 1&2
Kapela, Karen - Evaluator ONLY - Rounds 1&2
Kearns, Jenna - Evaluator ONLY - Rounds 2&3
Kennedy, Hannah - Judge/Evaluator - Rounds 1&3
Kording, Scott - Judge - Cornerstone Conflict - Round 1
Lenckus, Sean - Judge - All Rounds
Mannen, Nicole - Evaluator ONLY - Rounds 1&2
Maulson, Wendy - Evaluator ONLY -Rounds 1&2
McClure, Thomas - Judge - Rounds 1&3
McKibbin, Ed - Either - All Rounds
Owen, Shannon - Either - Rounds 2&3
Patton, Jennifer - Judge - Round 3
Queen, Craig - Judge - Normal Community Conflice - Rounds 2&3
Ruble, Nicholas - Evaluator/Judge - Round 1
Shane, Josephine - Evaluator ONLY - Round 1
Stuckey, Jennifer - Evaluator ONLY -All Rounds
Trygstad, Jacob - Judge or Evaluator - All Rounds
Vasquez, Samantha - Anything needed - Rounds 1&2
Wallace, Stuart - Judge/Evaluator - Normal Community Conflict - All Rounds
Williams, Taylor - Evaluator ONLY - Round 2
mock trial rounds and volunteer needs
Please remember to monitor the round time closely so that each team has an equal chance to participate.
|
Round 1 9:30 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Judges & Evaluators will be assigned to rounds once applications are received. You will be notified when you have been assigned as a judge or evaluator and of which rounds you will be involved with. |
Round 2 11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Judges & Evaluators will be assigned to rounds once applications are received. You will be notified when you have been assigned as a judge or evaluator and of which rounds you will be involved with. |
Round 3 2:00 p.m. - 3:15 p.m.
Judges & Evaluators will be assigned to rounds once applications are received. You will be notified when you have been assigned as a judge or evaluator and of which rounds you will be involved with. |
mock trial forms and problem information
Updated 2-11
- 2026 MCBA-ISBA Regional Mock Trial Volunteer Agenda
- ISBA Mock Trial Website Resources - Problem, exhibits, handbook and additional resources here.
- 2026 Rules Summary
- Evaluator Score Sheet [new form this year]
- Presiding Score Sheet [new form this year]
- Time Sheet 2026
cle information
Updated 2-11
Should Illinois Stop Implicit Bias in Jury Selection?
Presented by:
Thomas E. McClure, J.D., M.S.,
Professor Emeritus in Legal Studies and Political Science, Illinois State University
Thomas E. McClure, J.D., M.S.,
Professor Emeritus in Legal Studies and Political Science, Illinois State University
[up to 1 hour general CLE - Approved]
The free CLE and lunch will be held from 12.45 pm - 1.45 pm for the volunteers.
In 1986, the U.S. Supreme Court in Batson v. Kentucky promulgated a three-step process that trial judges must apply to determine whether the prosecution’s peremptory challenges were based on racial discrimination. The procedure remains the law in Illinois in both criminal and civil cases.
This CLE program first analyzes Batson and its progeny to show how the three-step test is interpreted and has expanded to other circumstances. It also will analyze the factors that the Illinois Supreme Court requires circuit courts to apply to determine whether a challenger has proved a prima facie case of discrimination. The presentation will next examine how to lay the groundwork for a discrimination challenge in voir dire as well as how to present a Batson objection. Finally, the program will examine how other states have modified the Batson three-step process to prevent implicit bias in jury selection.
This CLE program first analyzes Batson and its progeny to show how the three-step test is interpreted and has expanded to other circumstances. It also will analyze the factors that the Illinois Supreme Court requires circuit courts to apply to determine whether a challenger has proved a prima facie case of discrimination. The presentation will next examine how to lay the groundwork for a discrimination challenge in voir dire as well as how to present a Batson objection. Finally, the program will examine how other states have modified the Batson three-step process to prevent implicit bias in jury selection.
materials
updated 2-12-2026 at 4:10 pm
This event would not be possible if it weren't for the support of
The McLean County Bar Association
and
The Eleventh Judicial Trial Courts
and
Our Volunteers!