News
Mock Trial Teams Advance to Finals
Two GPS Mock Trial teams advance to the upcoming regional finals.
During the last days of February, two GPS Mock Trial teams competed at the Hamilton County Courthouse and proved their talent in the legal field. Both teams, Blue and White, will vie in the upcoming regional final rounds on Tuesday, March 7, at the City County Courts Building at 600 Market Street from 6-8 p.m. The two winners from Tuesday night's trials will advance to the state competition.
Undefeated GPS Blue claimed wins against Signal Mountain Red, two teams from the Chattanooga Southeast Tennessee Home Education Association, and Baylor Grey. In three of the rounds, Brianna House was named Best Attorney. In the first round, Hannah Brotton received special recognition from Circuit Court Judge Jeff Hollingsworth for her portrayal of a defense witness. The Blue team will defend their client against the State of Tennessee as represented by McCallie in order to advance to state competition.
Undefeated GPS Blue claimed wins against Signal Mountain Red, two teams from the Chattanooga Southeast Tennessee Home Education Association, and Baylor Grey. In three of the rounds, Brianna House was named Best Attorney. In the first round, Hannah Brotton received special recognition from Circuit Court Judge Jeff Hollingsworth for her portrayal of a defense witness. The Blue team will defend their client against the State of Tennessee as represented by McCallie in order to advance to state competition.
GPS White ranked fifth in overall points scored and defeated STEM School and Ooltewah Red. The team’s Amal Ali also won Best Attorney twice. In one, Emily Wu was named Best Witness, and in another, Isabel Hester received special recognition for her portrayal of the State’s expert witness. Rounds were won in verdict and in scoring points. That team will also be in the final round on Tuesday night, GPS acting as the State against Signal Mountain Black.
The Tennessee Bar Association releases the “case” to be tried in November, and the teams start preparing. This year's case has involved a juvenile charged with aggravated assault and elder abuse of a nursing home patient while she was volunteering there. The State wants to try the juvenile as an adult but has to overcome some questions about its investigation. The defense says their client is innocent, but she has to overcome some issues with her enthusiastic volunteer work.
GPS has been coached by Superior Court Judge Brian House and Assistant United States Attorney Tammy Combs. “In each round, the judge and jurors (practicing judges and lawyers) talked about how much they enjoyed watching the teams and recognized their hard work,” said Attorney Combs. The team has also been supported by faculty member Jo Brotton and parent chair Jama House.
Members of the two GPS teams are Brianna House, Lilly Allbright, Hannah Brotton, Bennett Burns, Gabrielle Cox, Olivia Combs, Carmen Resnick, Amal Ali, Komal Patri, Briana Griffith, Emily Wu, and Isabel Hester.
