Students from Camas and Columbia high schools faced off Thursday afternoon during Clark County’s two-day district mock trial tournament at the Clark County Courthouse.
Eight teams from six local high schools presented “Ex-Con Oration,” a civil action case seeking damages after a prisoner’s conviction was overturned. The other participating schools included the Clark County Skills Center, Columbia River, Hockinson and Morton.
On Thursday afternoon, Columbia, from White Salmon, represented the plaintiff, Dana Calas, who was convicted in 2012 of first-degree robbery following a jury trial. The students argued that Calas’ defense counsel was negligent and that false evidence had been filed by the state. They sought compensation and exoneration for their client.
The Camas students argued on behalf of the state that the plaintiff’s civil action case was built on stories and not facts.
Over the two-day tournament, there were six rounds, for a total of 18 trials. Each trial was presided over by a volunteer and rated by three attorneys who played jurors.
