The jury has reached a decision. The verdict … Guilty on both counts: Committing terroristic threats and third-degree assault in a road-rage, criminal case, heard recently before the Hon. Thomas K. Harmon at the Sarpy County Courthouse in Papillion.

While the case, written by a group of Nebraska attorneys, was fictitious, the jury’s decision was not. Duchesne Academy, “acting” on behalf of the plaintiffs, “proved” to be winners of the 2025 Judge Lyle Strom High School Mock Trial, sponsored by the Nebraska State Bar Foundation.

Wayne High School, in the role of defense, was awarded first-runner up, among the 10 high school teams, one from each Nebraska region, which advanced to the state competition.

In addition, Landen Sharer, a Wayne High School student, earned top honors in the 2025 High School Mock Trial News Reporter Competition, held in conjunction with the state championship.

The high school civics lesson is just one component of the NSBF, a nonprofit corporation established in 1963, whose mission is:

“To serve the citizens of Nebraska and the legal profession through the administration and funding of innovative and creative programs directed toward the improvement of justice and the fulfillment of the American vision of equal justice for all.”

Each year, more than 1,000 students and teachers from schools across Nebraska take part in the competition, named in honor of Strom, the late federal district judge, who, since 1984, was instrumental in establishing and overseeing the program for a good, many years, according to Doris Huffman, who serves as the NSBF’s executive director.

“Both teams did an outstanding job and are to be commended for all their hard work in preparing for the competition. The foundation focuses on public education, so a mock trial fits perfectly within the mission,” she said.

Throughout the competition, students experience what it is like to prepare for and present a case before a jury. Additionally, they learn to evaluate information, respond quickly, and sharpen public-speaking skills, according to the NSBF.

However, the greatest benefit is the opportunity to learn how the legal system works, and valuable lessons, they can take well into adulthood.

“By studying and understanding courtroom procedure, students should become more comfortable with federal and state laws as part of the legal system. Student interaction with some of Nebraska’s finest attorneys and judges will provide them with a glimpse of the different interpretations of trial procedure,” it said.

But the benefits present another side. Competition also fosters mentorship among its members.

In addition, more than 400 legal professionals volunteer as attorney coaches for the team, performance and presiding judges, as well as regional coordinators and case committee members, Huffman said.

But best to hear from someone who has witnessed, or rather presided, over the competition, first-hand.

“They were both excellent. It was a close call from everyone that was involved in the judging process,” according to Harmon, a judge for the Nebraska 4th Judicial District County Court, who for the last 12 years has served as regional coordinator for high school mock trials in the Omaha metro.

Up until then, he served as Strom’s “right-hand man,” who worked diligently, well into his 90s, before retiring, he admiringly said.

“For me, as a presiding judge, it’s a wonderful experience when you have two very articulate, well-coached teams who participate. They understand the case, they understand the witnesses, and they understand the evidentiary rules,” he noted.

But it’s not just this class of legal eagles, according to Harmon, who, for the last three years, has been invited to judge the national mock trial competitions, as well.

I’m impressed every year with the students and the witnesses, and how well-prepared they are. It’s not just with the championship teams; you see that throughout the tournament itself. And every year, if you do this long enough, you see these youngsters come in as freshmen, and if they continue, each and every year they become more polished, they become more understanding, they become more articulate, they become more professional in the way they present their cases,” he said.

A member of a select class himself, Harmon is a Lifetime Fellow of the NSBF, a prestigious honor bestowed annually on 30 lawyers. It is one of the highest honors that can be given to a Nebraska attorney, according to the foundation.

“For those that participate, they understand civic responsibility, they understand the system, and mostly they understand that we in the United States are blessed to be governed by the rule of law,” he said, of the program’s intent.

Keen on mentorship, Harmon believes every judge should give back to the community in some capacity, who, over the years, has practiced in every area – from criminal, probate and civil to trial and appellate work.

“Both as a lawyer and as a judge, I was very fortunate because when you get out of law school or when you come to the bench for the first time, no one is born a lawyer, and no one is born a judge. You develop those skills over a period of time. And the individuals that teach you, they are the practitioners or the judges who have been in the business for some period of time. They understand the pratfalls, they assist you in making sure that you don’t make the same mistakes, or that you understand the importance of what you do as a profession, whether it be lawyer or it be judge,” he reasoned.

The Hon. Stefanie A. Martinez, also a NSBF Lifetime Fellow, whose docket consists predominantly of criminal and domestic cases, as well as civil claims, appeals and protection orders, agreed.

A Sarpy County District Court Judge, Martinez has served as an attorney coach for Duchesne Academy’s Mock Trial team since 2016 and head coach of the school’s top team since 2018. Setting precedent, the academy won the national championship in 2015 and placed second in the Nebraska competition in 2016.

“Both of my daughters graduated from Duchesne Academy; one in 2019 and the other in 2020. I initially became a coach to spend more time with my daughters. After they both graduated, I continued coaching. My oldest daughter is now one of the coaches for our second team. I also participate in their Law Day activities, inviting 5th grade students to our courthouse to learn more about the legal system,” she said of her mentorships.

She, too, attests to the mock trial’s inherent value.

“In addition to learning about the legal process, the students develop important life skills, including public speaking, professionalism and teamwork,” she said.

In diplomatic fashion, the all-girls, Catholic high school holds try-outs for the various roles, assigned based on what they learn from prior coaches and/or teachers, as well as their preferences.

“We try to take all those who try out and will create as many teams as necessary to accommodate that,” she said of the selection process. “Our top team has a more rigorous practice schedule, so some girls do not want to be considered for that since they may have other commitments to consider.”

Once in motion, it’s time well-served…

“It is very much like athletics. You practice multiple times per week. The girls draft opening and closing statements and direct and cross-examinations. The witnesses need to memorize their witness statements and practice being cross-examined by opposing counsel. The lawyers also have to be able to understand the rules of evidence in order to make proper objections and responses,” she said.

The Hon. Robert B. Ensz, one of two attorney coaches for the Wayne High School Mock Trial Team, a northeastern Nebraska school with 250-300 students, can also testify to its benefits.

A Lifetime Fellow as well, Ensz started as a government attorney, then began private practice in Wayne, eventually becoming the Wayne County Attorney, after which he was appointed to the district bench by then-Gov Gov. Ben Nelson.

“Mentorships, such as those provided by both teacher and attorney coaches for mock trial students, assist in the students’ personal development, career choices, public speaking, confidence-building, and academic performance generally,” he said.

“Mock trials allow the students to experience the spirit of respectful courtroom competition, to meet students from other schools engaged in the same activity, and generally to think, question, and respond to questions as attorneys and witnesses spontaneously,” he added.

In brief, attorney coaches meet with the team, advise as to the legal process, teach the applicable rules of evidence, help with trial strategy, judge and critique practice team trials, and perform such other tasks as the teacher coach may request.

“We generally attend the several mock trials leading up to, and including, the state competition, if our team survives the qualifying rounds of competition,” he said.

And, in his opinion, their due diligence has paid off.

“The competitions I observed were outstanding. At state, Wayne competed against Gering, Kearney Catholic, Pius X, and, finally, Duchesne Academy in the championship trial. The trials were close and highly competitive. The students were well-prepared and all had a good knowledge of the process and the rules of evidence applicable to the case. The attorneys and witnesses understood their roles and were well-versed in the facts and law.”

However, the greatest strength of the students was not in their knowledge of the case, “but in the professionalism, decorum, and respect which they gave the law, their opponents, the court and the jury,” he said.

Nor were there noted objections, despite challenges on all sides.

“Preparation required numerous hours outside of class because this was an extracurricular activity. This included after school, in competition with other activities, such as sports and one-act play practices. It also meant evenings and weekends were necessary preparation times. Wayne High School had four teams, from freshmen to seniors, so coordinating times for everyone to meet was extremely difficult,” he said.

However, that didn’t seem to deter them.

“Students volunteer for a mock trial, and none are rejected. Wayne has a long tradition of participating in the mock trial program, going back to the first year in 1986, so there has been much interest in participating. Students generally can choose whether they prefer to be attorneys or witnesses, but the teacher coach may place a student in a role for which that student is best suited,” he said.

And “practiced,” they had to be…

“This case taught the students that there are two sides to every case. That’s why we go to trial. Either side can be argued passionately. This was a good experience because the teams had to be prepared to argue either side of the case.”

Why pursue law? Here’s a bit of “legal” advice…

‘The law is an honorable profession,” according to Ensz. “I saw this from an early age because of the respect I had for the attorneys in our community. They were also community leaders. I wanted to be like them. I wanted to go to a community in Nebraska where I could join a law firm like the ones I saw in my hometown. However, there are many specialized areas of law, so I would encourage a bright student to find an appealing area and pursue it,” he said.

The benefits go beyond the legal profession, according to Martinez.

“I come from a family dedicated to public service, so the notion of giving back to my community was something instilled in me at a young age. Becoming a lawyer was the mechanism that I could merge my passion for public service with my passion for fairness, equality and justice,” she said.

“I would encourage students to go to law school to learn critical-thinking skills and oral advocacy. These are essential skills to help any student succeed in whatever career field they choose. You don’t have to become a lawyer when you graduate law school. In fact, there are many other career paths in which a law degree would be beneficial,” she added.

Like many law students, Harmon, too, was intrigued by the courtroom theatrics of Perry Mason, as a young child, sitting on his grandfather’s knee, watching TV.

“Let me tell you, every case I ever tried I’d pray to God Paul Drake would come in and rescue me, and he never did,” he jests, about the character, who, nearly every episode – at the 11th hour – helped win the case.

“The law has been very good to me both as a practitioner and as a judge. Again, I will go back to my foregoing principle, that we are blessed in this country to be protected by a constitution, and by understanding that we should all be treated equally under the law, which is the motto of this state, ‘Equality Before The Law.’

“Understand it is not an easy choice because of the number of years that you have to put in, and time that you have to spend in preparation, and appreciating the fact that we do these things to become professionals and to make sure that everyone has equal access to the courts, and they are represented by good and efficient counsel,” he said.

Without doubt, Duchesne will be ready to argue their case, as they prepare for a new trial at the national championship, held May 7-9, 2026, in Des Moines.

To learn more about the NSBF, please visit: https://www.nebarfnd.org/