Arkansas Legal Community Comes Together to Support High School Mock Trial Competition
Conway High School Wins State Championship and Advances to National Competition
February 28, 2026
Photo provided by Casey Griffith.
Left to Right: Ronald Weaver, Katharine Welky, Attorney (Star Attorney), Ian Lee-Kim, Attorney, Bobby Batson, Witness, Judge Brian Miller, Hugh Lamey, Witness, Jessie Smith, Timekeeper, Zenna Dean, Witness; Addison Choate, Attorney (Star Attorney), Naomi Brooks, Witness (Star Witness), Milina Michel, Amelia Garrett, Annabel Champlin, Witness (Star Witness)
The Arkansas Bar Association extends its sincere thanks to the many judges, attorneys, coaches, and volunteers who made this year’s Arkansas High School Mock Trial Competition a success.
With courts closed and volunteers stepping away from busy practices to support students throughout the weekend, the competition reflected a true all-hands-on-deck effort from Arkansas’s legal community. Special appreciation to the Richard Sheppard Arnold United States Courthouse for generously hosting the event and providing students the opportunity to compete in a real courtroom setting.
Special Thanks
We extend our sincere appreciation to the members of the Mock Trial Committee whose leadership and year-round commitment make this program possible. View the full Mock Trial Committee roster here.
A complete list of volunteer judges, coaches, and supporters will be posted soon — please check back.
Led by Mock Trial Committee Co-Chairs Maggie King Davis and Adam Jackson, along with Immediate Past Chair and longtime volunteer Anthony McMullen, the statewide program continues to provide Arkansas students with hands-on experience in courtroom advocacy, critical thinking, and teamwork.
This year’s competition brought together 21 teams representing 14 high schools from across Arkansas. After multiple rounds of competition, Conway High School defeated Little Rock Central High School in the final round to claim the 2026 Arkansas High School Mock Trial State Championship.
In Action
The championship round was presided over by U.S. District Judge Brian Miller, with scoring judges including U.S. Attorney Jonathan Ross, Assistant Federal Public Defender Lisa Peters, Pulaski County Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Will James, Audra Hamilton of Mitchell Williams, and Greene County Judge Margaret Dobson.
Next up: Conway High School will represent Arkansas at the National High School Mock Trial Championship, May 7–9, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
The Mock Trial program is made possible through the generous support of:
