Texas Border Business
PHARR – Two Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD (PSJA) seniors recently advanced to the 2nd Annual State Courtroom Artist Championship that will be held in Dallas from March 2-3, 2018. Jose Cuevas from PSJA North Early College High School and Emiliano Nuño from PSJA T. Jefferson T-STEM Early College High School, qualified to State after competing at the Texas High School Mock Trial Competition held at the Hidalgo County Courthouse on Jan. 13.
First established in 1979, the Texas High School Mock Trial Competition is organized and administered by the Dallas Bar Association Mock Trial Committee. Each year, more than 2,000 students from over 160 schools across the state participate in the competition. The program provides a great way for students to gain an “insider’s view” of the US judicial system and gain confidence in public speaking.
This will be the second year that the Courtroom Artist Championship is offered and the very first time PSJA ISD students compete.
For Nuño, representing his school and district at the Regional and State competition will be a unique experience.
“This is my first time participating in Mock Trial,” said Nuño who plans to graduate with an Associate Degree in Chemistry from South Texas College in May. “I plan to practice and do my best to prepare for State.”
In addition to the Courtroom Artist contest, more than 70 PSJA students participated at the Texas High School Mock Trial Competition. While in prior years PSJA North was the only PSJA school to participate, this year all PSJA ISD high schools had teams compete.
In preparation for the competition, PSJA ISD held a district-wide Mock Trial Clinic at PSJA Early College High School in December where students gained insightful knowledge about courtroom legal procedures and received first-hand advice from local judges and attorneys.
Congratulations and best of luck to the students competing at state!
 seniors recently advanced to the 2nd Annual State Courtroom Artist Championship that will be held in Dallas from March 2-3, 2018. Jose Cuevas from PSJA North Early College High School and Emiliano Nuño from PSJA T. Jefferson T-STEM Early College High School, qualified to State after competing at the Texas High School Mock Trial Competition held at the Hidalgo County Courthouse on Jan. 13.){kind=link}