The state wrestling and basketball championships are over. This weekend, Des Moines is hosting the Mock Trial State Tournament. It gathers 32 teams of high school students from across Iowa to argue both sides of a hypothetical legal case before real attorneys, acting as judges. Chuck Corcoran is communications director for the Iowa State Bar Association, which sponsors the tournament. Corcoran says students get to take part in exciting cases to test their skills in critical thinking, presentation, research and public speaking.This year’s case involves the Americans with Disabilities Act and the firing of a daycare center worker who alleges the termination was due to a seizure disorder. The employer claims it was insubordination. Corcoran says the competition can help the students later in life, no matter what profession they chose.The opening rounds are underway all day today with the semi-finals and championships tomorrow at Drake University. The winning team goes on to the National High School Mock Trial Championships in Omaha in May.
