Code of Ethical Conduct

For Participants in the Georgia Mock Trial Competition and all Special Projects The purpose of the Georgia Mock Trial Competition, and all of its Special Projects, is to stimulate and encourage a deeper understanding and appreciation of the American legal system. This purpose is accomplished by providing students the opportunity to participate actively in the learning process. The education of young people is the primary goal of the mock trial program. Healthy competition helps to achieve this goal. Other important objectives include: improving proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and reasoning skills; promoting effective communication and cooperation between the educational and legal communities; providing an opportunity to compete in an academic setting; and promoting cooperation among young people of diverse interests and abilities. As a means of diligent application of the Georgia Mock Trial Competition's Rules and Competition, the Young Lawyers Division's High School Mock Trial Committee has adopted the following Code of Ethical Conduct for all participants:

  1. Team members and all student participants in all Special Projects, including but not limited to the Law Academy, the Craig Harding Court Artist Contest and the Journalism Contest, promise to compete with the highest standards of deportment, showing respect for their fellow team members and participants, opponents, judges, evaluators, attorney coaches, teacher coaches and mock trial personnel. All competitors and participants will focus on accepting defeat and success with dignity and restraint. Trials, contests and activities will be conducted honestly, fairly, and with the utmost civility. Members and participants will avoid all tactics they know are wrong or in violation of the Rules, including the use of unfair extrapolations. Members and participants will not willfully violate the Rules of the competition in spirit or in practice.
  2. Teacher Coaches agree to focus attention on the educational value of the Mock Trial Competition. They shall discourage willful violations of the Rules. Teachers will instruct students as to proper procedure and decorum and will assist their students in understanding and abiding by the competition's Rules and this Code of Ethical Conduct.
  3. Attorney Coaches agree to uphold the highest standards of the legal profession and will zealously encourage fair play. They will promote conduct and decorum in accordance with the competition's Rules and this Code of Ethical Conduct. They will emphasize the educational value of the experience by requiring that all questions, objections, responses, opening statements and closing arguments be substantially the work product of the team members. Attorney Coaches are reminded that they are in a position of authority and thus serve as positive role models for the students.
  4. All participants (including observers) are bound by all sections of this Code and agree to abide by the provisions. Teams are responsible for insuring that all observers are aware of the Code. Students, teacher coaches and attorney coaches will be required to sign a copy of this Code. This signature will serve as evidence of knowledge and agreement to the provisions of the Code. Violations of this Code of Ethical Conduct may be grounds for reductions in scores, disqualification from a contest and/or suspension or expulsion from the Law Academy.
  5. Presiding judges and evaluators are asked to observe the trials with an objective eye. Interjecting one's own personal style and biases is of no value in the education process. Evaluators are seeking highly skilled advocates, not hostility or pettifoggery. Team members have agreed to abide by the Rules and this Code in spirit and in practice; therefore, violations should result in a lowering of the score. All judges and evaluators promise to be prepared and knowledgeable about this Code of Ethical Conduct, the Rules of the Competition, the problem and the procedures. The appearance of impropriety, bias or favoritism shall be avoided. Presiding Judges will conduct trials with objectivity and honesty.