ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- The 97th Air Mobility Wing judge advocate office organized a mock trial for the students of Mangum High School here May 1, 2024.
In honor of National Law Day, the students participated in a scripted mock trial depicting a murder.
Law Day is an annual commemoration held to celebrate the rule of law and cultivate a deeper understanding of the legal system.
“Law Day is not just a celebration of our legal system, but we as the legal office for Altus Air Force Base also get to impart this wisdom to the high school students of the local area,” says Col. Velma Thompson, 97th Air Mobility Wing staff judge advocate. “To reaffirm our commitment to the values and the freedoms in our society.”
Through prepared evidence and instruction, the students of Mangum High School took turns assuming the roles of prosecutors and defense attorneys, acting out intense questioning between them and the witness. They also learned how investigators would handle evidence and how it would be presented to the jury in a proper manner.
Kelli King, Mangum High School teacher, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity the students had with this event.
“I think it’s going to be a valuable thing for them,” she says. “Some of the kids are thinking about becoming a lawyer and some are going into the military, so this is something they could possibly do.”
When the demonstration came to an end, the students were asked to come to their own conclusions about the verdict of the mock trial and close out the case.