CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Mock trial is a nationally recognized competition. Students in the extracurricular activity get a fictional case in October and have to study it and prepare to present it come February.
Ray High School students Daya Butler and Carlos Carroll are no rookies when it comes to mock trial.
"Well, I have been doing a mock trial for four now," Butler said. " In fact, my freshman year I was half attorney half witness, and since then I have been fortunate enough to be the lead attorney of our team."
Not only do the students have to be attorneys, but have to be convincing witnesses.
"The witnesses also have to be a character," Carroll said. "Be someone entertaining for the judges to watch."
But it goes beyond acting. The team has to know every fact of the case and more.
"Forwards, backwards, upside down, any possible way you could know it," Butler said. "Plus, we have to know the rules of evidence."
Butler said the skills even apply outside of the classroom.
"Not only does it increase your skills in speaking and in interacting with others, but it helps to increase your skills in analysis and evaluation," she said.
And most importantly it's fun.
"I love the exhilarating thrill of the competition and it also a lot of fun to see other people working just as hard as we are," Carroll said.
The top team at regionals will advance to state in Dallas on the first weekend of March.