When we say "represent Milford," we don’t usually mean in a courtroom—but these talented Legal Eagles went above and beyond at last week’s district mock trial competition! The Milford High School Mock Trial team swept all four individual awards at the Clermont County District competition, held at the Batavia Courthouse, showcasing their exceptional preparation, teamwork, and poise.
Libby Morgan earned recognition as both Best Attorney and Best Witness, while Khushi Patel was also named Best Witness, and Natalie Chiapelli received Best Attorney. The award-winning team includes juniors Grace Hamm, Khushi Patel, and Natalie Chiapelli, sophomore Marina Chiapelli, and senior Libby Morgan.
Mock Trial, organized by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education (OCLRE), is an interscholastic competition where students present both sides of a fictional legal case in a courtroom setting. This year’s case centered on a timely First Amendment issue involving AI-generated defamation.
“It’s about whether or not a video made by a student about their principal, who is also running for city council, is protected as parody under the First Amendment or if it’s defamatory,” explained Grace Hamm.
Teams are divided into plaintiff and defense sides, with students taking on roles as attorneys or witnesses. They prepare opening and closing statements, craft direct and cross-examinations, and memorize detailed witness statements. Each trial is scored by a panel of real attorneys and judges, based on students' ability to present their case, argue effectively, and remain composed under pressure.
For Hamm, the preparation was intense but rewarding. “I had to know the case inside out because I’m a lawyer for both sides,” she said. “We spent hours on calls as a team, reviewing each other’s work, checking to make sure questions wouldn’t get objected to, and making sure our arguments lined up. It’s such a team effort because how well you do depends on how well your witness performs, too.”
The Milford Mock Trial team’s hard work and dedication paid off, securing a spot at regionals for the first time since 2017. Downey, who is retiring this year, reflected on the group’s success. “This is an exceptionally talented and motivated group of students. They’ve practiced tirelessly and mastered the material, all while balancing other activities. It’s rare to see such dedication, and I couldn’t be prouder of them,” she said.
The Milford Mock Trial team is now preparing for regionals, aiming to advance to the state competition for the first time in 20 years. As Downey reflected on her final year with the program, she said, “This group is really special. They’re smart, driven, and work so well together. I couldn’t be prouder of what they’ve accomplished.”