The Academy of Classical Christian Studies Wins State Mock Trial Championship

The Academy of Classical Christian Studies Team Goodness was named the 2026 Oklahoma High School Mock Trial state champion and will represent Oklahoma at the National High School Mock Trial Championship in May.

Two teams representing the Academy of Classical Christian Studies in Oklahoma City earned the honor of competing in this year’s Oklahoma High School Mock Trial Championship. The teams met for the final round of competition on March 3 in Tulsa at the Page Belcher Federal Building and U.S. Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma. The high school’s “Team Goodness,” in its role as plaintiff, defeated “Team Beauty,” in the role of defendant, in the fictional case of “Tony Shapiro v. Blackstone Insurance Company.” Team Goodness will now advance to represent Oklahoma at the National High School Mock Trial Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa, in May.

Long-time Mock Trial Coordinator Judy Spencer, who retired in 2025, was honored by the OBA Mock Trial Committee with the inaugural “Judy Spencer Award” during the finals competition in Tulsa.

Through the Oklahoma High School Mock Trial program, which is funded by a grant from the Oklahoma Bar Foundation, high school students assume the roles of attorneys and witnesses as they build and argue cases before volunteer judges. Thirty-eight teams from across the state competed this year. Competition season began last fall.

“The High School Mock Trial program, now in its 45th year, is a unique activity that sharpens thinking, listening and speaking skills,” said Mock Trial Coordinator Mike Horn. “Students must analyze the materials from all perspectives and learn to build persuasive arguments. They develop critical thinking and reasoning skills that will serve them throughout their lives. Many former mock trial competitors go on to become lawyers and judges, and several participate now as volunteers.”

The final round was presented to a distinguished panel of judges. The presiding judge was Judge Jane Wiseman of the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals. Scoring panelists were Judge Dan Crawford, Judge Deirdre Dexter, Judge Stacie Hixon, Judge Mark Schwebke and Judge Georgenia Van Tuyl.

Both teams were coached by April Spencer, with Jennifer Stall serving as attorney coach. Ethan Hoyle and Tyler Smothers served as the teams’ assistant coaches.

THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS 

Judge and attorney volunteers gather at the Page Belcher Federal Building and U.S. Court for the Northern District of Oklahoma to host the 2026 Oklahoma High School Mock Trial championship round of competition.

Along with the generous support from the Oklahoma Bar Foundation, hundreds of judges and attorneys volunteer to make each year’s program a success. These volunteers donate time to work with mock trial teams directly, score and judge the teams throughout the competition and serve as members of the OBA Mock Trial Committee to plan and execute the competition. Email mocktrial@okbar.org if you are interested in being a part of the committee or volunteering for the Oklahoma High School Mock Trial program next year!

MOCK TRIAL COMMITTEE 

Mike Horn, Coordinator
Gigi McCormick, OBA Staff Liaison
Anthony Purinton, Chair
Madison Botizan
S. Shea Bracken
Jennifer Bruner Soltani
Hayley Drusen
Keaton Klepper
Gessica McLanahan
Judy Spencer
Nathan Richter
Dylan Voorhis
Maggie White
Zana Williams

SITE COORDINATORS

Carolyn Thompson, Oklahoma City and Tulsa Volunteer Coordinator
Judge Tim Mills, Pittsburg County
Colton Scott, Rogers County
Robin Rollins, East Central University
April McClure, Cherokee Supreme Court
Jennifer Bruner Soltani, Canadian County
Justin Tharp, Custer County