Jonesboro High School team hoping to win mock trial national championship

JONESBORO, Ga. — A Jonesboro High School team is hoping to bring home a national championship.

For the 12th time in school history, the Jonesboro High School Mock Trial Team won the Georgia state championship.

Now they’re looking to compete at nationals in May in Little Rock, Arkansas.

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Anna Cox is one of four coaches who helped lead the team to its state championship.

“Some of these kids are talented, but what it is, is hard work. People ask us what our rate of success is or what our formula is and it’s hard work,” Cox said. “It’s putting in hours and hours both in the courtroom and also putting in hours outside the courtroom.”

The students from 9th through 12th grade practice three days a week for three hours, perfecting their debate, questions, and other skills that will help them in the mock trials.

Senior Henry Rabideau said the mock trial is not only exciting, but everyone on the team is learning life-long skills.

“It’s just a huge honor to be part of such a legacy of Jonesboro mock trial,” Rabideau said. “It gives you the ability to creatively problem solve and you get good at doing it fast.”

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This year is the first year since 2019 that the nationals are in person.

Henry and his 8 teammates want to be there, they just need to raise the money.

“We are fundraising through the Georgia Bar Association and through a GoFundMe set up for Jonesboro High School mock trial and we just want to make sure we can get our students there and give them the best opportunity to compete.

The team is excited about the possibility of attending nationals.

If you’d like to contribute to their efforts, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/jonesboro-mock-trial-competition-2023.

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