The air is frosty and quiet. The lake sits serenely in the middle of a clear Iowa night. An old hotel sits right next to the lake. All is calm. But suddenly, the hotel bursts into flames. Someone comes running out of the building, and sirens can be heard from across the city. The firefighters attempt to put out the fire, but it is too late and the hotel is gone. But this isn’t real life—it’s the 2026 Iowa High School mock trial case.
“The mock trial case this year is State versus Seneca Crane,” Jason Schumann, City High history teacher and one of the mock trial coach, said. “It involves a hotel owner who is accused of arson, and he is alleged to have burned down the hotel that he owns.”
The case revolves around whether the accused, Seneca Crane, burned down their own hotel for the insurance money, and City High’s mock trial team prepares to represent both sides, the defendant and the prosecution. At competitions, City High will battle to see which side can represent their ‘clients’ the best.
“We only have one guaranteed competition, which is the regional competition,” Schumann said. “Depending on how you perform in the regional competition, then you advance to the state tournament.
If they perform well in the regional competitions, some of the mock trial teams will be able to advance to state.
“The past two years, we’ve had teams that have made it to the state championship and then have gotten runner-up,” Schumann said. “This year, the goal is to bring home a state championship trophy.”
Since the case has come out, the team has begun meeting more frequently in order to prepare.
“I’m going to most certainly have to spend more time [on mock trial],” Jonah Alam ‘26, a mock trial member, said. “I’m going to have roles assigned to [me] and I’m going to also have to work at those and begin writing [for them], but once you get used to it, it’s pretty easy.”
Mock trial’s purpose is to simulate a courtroom. However, not only students interested in pursuing a legal career participate.
“I will not be pursuing a legal career,” Felix Cook ‘28, a mock trial team member, said. “I do mock trial both because I’m interested in learning how legal system works and also [because] there are some very funny moments and funny acting we get to do.”
Although the teams are beginning to prepare and the case has already come out, there are still opportunities for students to learn about mock trial and decide if it’s for them or if they wish to participate next year.
“There are [still] spaces for alternates to come and watch.” Schumann said. “And especially if you’re maybe interested in future years, it’s a great idea to just come to some of the practices and get a sense of what we do before you make a decision about whether or not it’s an activity you want to commit to.”
