This year's problem is a 42 USC § 1983 action brought by Detective Rook E. Greenwood against Chief Billie Durden of the Miltonville Police Department. Greenwood claims that Durden violated his/her civil rights by terminating him/her based on a statement s/he made through a posting on a social networking site called “MiltFace”. Chief Durden disputes that the statement in question had anything to do with Greenwood’s firing, and instead claims to have terminated Greenwood "for good cause" due to citizen complaints.

The cast of characters in this case is, once again, unique. Leslie Loudermouth is a would‐be politician and community activist. Marion Schley is an animal rights advocate. London Goddard and Pauly/Polly Schorr are local law enforcement officers. All have a history with one another and with Greenwood and Durden. Each witness has his or her own story to tell and possibly his or her own agenda in this matter. It will be up to each team to find all the tidbits provided by the case writers and to use those tidbits strategically to put together the most compelling case possible for each side. Best of luck to each of our teams as each tackles the first Georgia mock trial case brought in U.S. District court in 17 years!

The Wesleyan Mock Trial team, competed and won the region competition that was held at the Lawrenceville Courthouse on February 11 and 12.    

The competition team consisted of plaintiff lawyers: Jack Eidson (captain), Katie Zimmerman and Palmer Brasher; plaintiff witnesses: Lila Deaton, Caroline Jordan and Will O’Briant,  defense lawyers: Ross Thomas (captain), Ashley Gentry and Brooks Prettyman and defense witnesses: Austin Short, Souvana Saya and Jay Bowen.  The time keepers were Christopher Wages and Kaitlin Mullen.  Students competed in three total rounds of competition and in the final round, Wesleyan defeated Brookwood 7-3.  Austin Short, Souvana Saya, Jay Bowen, Caroline Jordan and Lila Deaton all won Best witness awards while Ross Thomas, Ashley Gentry and Katie Zimmerman won best attorney awards for their performance during the competition.  Additionally, Ross Thomas was honored for being a four-year participant in Mock Trial. 

The team will compete in the state competition on March 19 and 20 at the Lawrenceville Courthouse with the following members.  (Many competition team members from region will be on mission trips for state.)

Plaintiff:

Palmer Brasher (captain)

Hannah Fletcher

Michelle Kruger

Bryce Hamlin

Witnesses:

Purabi Das

Sarah Settlage

Madelyn Jordan

Mairead O’Hare

Caroline Jordan

Defense:

Ashley Gentry (captain)

Kaitlin Mullen

Christopher Wages

Witnesses:

Aaron Smay

Kenzie Hanson

Hunter Dixon