LAKELAND — A band of high school legal aces from Lakeland will have their day in court.
Lakeland Christian School’s Mock Trial team beat teams from across Florida’s judicial circuits in March to win the Florida High School Mock Trial Competition in Orlando.
The team will now represent Florida at the National High School Mock Trial Championship May 7–9 in Des Moines, Iowa.
“This is an extraordinary achievement for these students and a proud moment for our entire community,” said Rep. Jennifer Canady, director of the RISE Institute at Lakeland Christian. “These young men and women have demonstrated not only academic excellence, but the kind of discipline, character, and critical thinking that will serve them for a lifetime.”
The National High School Mock Trial Championship brings together the top team from each state in a rigorous courtroom competition judged by attorneys and sitting judges.
At the state competition, a couple of LCS students won individual honors, including Griffin Byrd, 18, as Top Witness and Zack Branham, 17, as Overall Best Attorney.
“Our students have put in countless hours preparing for this moment,” Canady added. “They are representing not just their school, but the State of Florida on a national stage—and they are ready.”
As the team prepares for nationals, Lakeland Christian is partnering with community leaders and supporters to ensure students have the resources needed to compete at the highest level. The school said the 10th Circuit legal community has been instrumental in supporting students, including Circuit Judge Melissa Gravitt and a number of attorneys, who assisted in scrimmaging the students during preparation.
“Watching students practice with litigation skills that often rival practicing attorneys fills me with such encouragement for our future generations,” coach Chasity Branham said. “Aside from their in-court abilities, I also get the privilege of knowing them as just all-around incredible people with kind hearts and compassion and care for others. I can assure you the future is bright.”
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lakeland Christian’s mock trial team will go for national championship
Reporting by Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
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