Last week we held our second annual moot court competition. All five high schools in the county competed, including Buckholts, Cameron, Milano, Rockdale and Thorndale. I wish every citizen of this county could have witnessed these fine, outstanding leaders of tomorrow compete. It was an honor and a privilege to work with these fine young students. They were simply amazing!
Moot court is intended to provide the participants a learning experience and a glimpse into the legal world. The students were required to make an appellate court oral argument in front of three judges. The underlying case was based on a difficult DWI conviction and the students had to argue both sides in different parts of the competition.
Each team was allocated a maximum of fourteen minutes to make their case in front of the judges. The judges questioned the students about the intricate legal issues contained in the fact pattern of the case. After each round the students were critiqued by the judges to give each a better idea of what they were doing right and wrong.
After almost two full days of competition the final round was held in the Milam County District Courtroom on Wednesday afternoon. Of the 16 teams that began the competition, a Thorndale team consisting of Roy Moody and Alyssa Pacal and a Milano team consisting of Alize Rose and Lyndzie Perez advanced to the final round, which was broadcast live on KMIL and KRXT. The round was judged by attorney Hollis Lewis, District Attorney Bill Torrey and attorney Mathew Wright. Both teams were poised, knew the facts of the case and the law of the case. The Thorndale team won the event and the Milano team was the runner up. The Grand Champion Thorndale team won a $1,000 prize and the Reserve Champion Milano team won a $500 prize for their hard work.
We thank the fine schools of this county for the great education they are providing and for allowing these students to participate. We thank our sponsors, including Temple College, attorney Mathew Wright, attorney Ken Rhodes, attorney Jenny Gebhart Willie, KMIL, KRXT, the Cameron Lions Club and the Rockdale Rotary Club. We thank our many volunteers including Dr. Curtis Chubb. We thank our tutors including, attorney Craig Brown, attorney Hollis Lewis, Assistant District Attorney Brian Price and attorney Jenny Gebhart. It was my privilege to tutor the winning Thorndale team.
Congratulations to each and every student who participated in this unique, one of a kind, Milam County event and to the winning teams. Every Milam County resident can be very proud of these fine young participants. We can all be proud that our county government is supporting the youth of the county and know that our county is the only county in Texas sponsoring such an event.
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