Students to explore the legal and ethical implications at mock trial
Claymont’s mock trial team state qualifiers: Isla Dotts, left, Cambria Edwards, Zane Kuczirka, Cora Dotts, Malaika Douglas, Ashley Yang, Braxtyn Myers and Grace Canfield.
Claymont High School’s mock trial team has qualified for the Ohio State Mock Trial Competition for the second year running. They are the sole representative from Tuscarawas County, advancing from a field of 254 teams to the final 31.
The eight-student team will act as attorneys and witnesses in a preliminary injunction hearing centered around a politician’s defamation lawsuit over an AI-generated deepfake video. The case offers students an opportunity to explore the legal and ethical implications of this emerging artificial intelligence technology.
Junior Cora Dotts received an Outstanding Attorney Award at the regional competition held in Marietta. Team members also include senior Malaika Douglas; juniors Cambria Edwards and Zane Kuczirka; sophomores Grace Canfield, Braxtyn Myers and Ashley Yang; and seventh-grader Isla Dotts. The team is sponsored by Connolly, Hillyer & Ong Inc. and coached by Judge James J. Ong, with support from attorney Jeff Merklin and teacher Heather Dotts.
The state competition will be March 6-8 in Columbus, culminating in the championship at the Supreme Court of Ohio. The winning team will advance to the National High School Mock Trial Competition in Phoenix May 7-10.