Archway Veritas Hosts Mock Trials for Sandra Day O’Connor Civics Day

In observance of Sandra Day O’Connor Civics Celebration Day, Archway Veritas engaged their elementary students in a series of mock trials to deepen their understanding of the court system. The event, designed to bring civics to life for these young minds, featured Andrew Gould, a former judge and justice of the Arizona Supreme Court with over 20 years of experience, who guided students through the intricacies of courtroom proceedings.

House Bill 2625 established September 25 of each year as Sandra Day O’Connor Civics Celebration Day. The bill requires public schools to dedicate a majority of the day to civics education. Sandra Day O’Connor was an elected legislator in Arizona, serving as the first female majority leader of a state, an Arizona state judge, and later as our nation’s first female Supreme Court justice. All of our Arizona academies take part in this day a variety of ways, from bringing in special speakers to interactive projects like this one.

Judge Gould aimed to make the judicial system more accessible to students by giving them a hands-on experience. “I need each of you to play a role,” he instructed, encouraging them to step into the shoes of judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and witnesses. By simulating a trial, students were given a chance to experience the dynamics of presenting evidence, cross-examining witnesses, and arguing their case in front of a jury of their peers.

The mock trial was lighthearted and brought a lot of laughter for both the students and faculty. But at the same time it was very informative and eye-opening for the students. The case revolved around a young boy who was accused of feeding the family cat McDonald’s french fries, breaking a rule of his parents. With no direct evidence available, the students had to make a case based on circumstantial evidence, a common challenge in real courtrooms. “The kids have to figure out if there’s enough circumstantial evidence to conclude the defendant is guilty or not,” Gould explained.

As the mock trial proceeded, the students really began to fully step into their roles, with witnesses developing creative stories and participants showing a growing grasp of courtroom procedures, with a few missteps here and there. One student suspected the cat’s mysterious illness was linked to the fries, while another witness cleverly diverted attention to a new rug purchase by their mother, adding humor and suspense to the mock trial.

In the end, the jury, which was composed of the students in the audience, found the young boy “guilty” by a show of hands and the “punishments” handed down by the judge were equally playful, ranging from changing the cat’s litter box to eating cat food for a week. And of course, the most severe sentence was cheerfully given, ordering the defendant to eat cat food for a week!

“It’s interesting because when you listen to their comments, a lot of it is about the demeanor and the way somebody testifies, which is true to form for a court,” shared Judge Gould, reflecting on the educational value of the experience. Through this exercise, students gained a practical understanding of how the courts function, and who knows—maybe a future lawyer was born that day.

Sandra Day O’Connor Civics Celebration Day serves as a reminder of the importance of civics in education, and Archway Veritas’ mock trial event offered students an engaging, memorable way to celebrate Arizona’s first female Supreme Court Justice and the vital role of the judicial system in our democracy.

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