Fostering the development of students' critical thinking skills, public speaking ability, work ethic, and self-confidence since 1994.

Our History
The Henry W. Grady High School Mock Trial Program got its start in 1994. Since its inception, a number of Atlanta law firms have supported the program through providing attorney coaches, practice space, and financial donations. And since 2010, the law firm of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP has Partnered with the Grady Mock Trial Program by graciously making its offices and state of the art mock courtroom facilities available to the team. The team competes in the Georgia High School Mock Trial Program of the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia, International High School Mock Trial Tournaments conducted by the Empire Mock Trial Association, and the Annual Public High School Mock Trial Invitational Tournament sponsored by the Foundation. For twenty years, the Grady High School Mock Trial Program has developed teams that have won Regional Championships, State Championships, and the 2010 World Championship title at the Empire City International High School Mock Trial Invitational World Championship held in New York City.
Our Program’s awards and accomplishments include:
Team Achievements and Awards
Metro-Atlanta / Fulton County Regional Championships Won
1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 & 2014
Georgia High School Mock Trial State Finalist
1999, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012
2010 Empire City Mock Trial Invitational
World Champion
Governor’s Commendation
from Governor Roy Barnes, 2000
Georgia High School Mock Trial State Semi-Finalist
1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013
Georgia High School Mock Trial State Champions:
2000, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012
National High School Mock Trial Championship Placements
13th (2000); 16th (2005); 8th (2009); 3rd (2010) and 4th(2011); and 2nd (2012)
The City of Atlanta’s Phoenix Award
2005, 2008 & 2011
Individual Student Achievements
Four Grady Student Witnesses have won Outstanding Student Witness Awards in every round of the Regional, District, and State Competition in which they competed in a season — Sean Corley, Asa Beal, Hannah Mitchell, and Orli Hendler.
In 2005, first-year student Lardycia Manns was a “Substitute Timekeeper” at the Regional Competition and a Starting Timekeeper at the State Championships. Six weeks later she competed as a Starting Student Attorney for Grady at the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Charlotte, NC.
On the 2010 World Championship team — 3 of the 6 competing Student Attorneys had never before competed as Student Attorneys. 4 of the 6 competing Student Witnesses had never before competed as witnesses
At the 2010 Empire World Championship Elizabeth McGlamry received the New York City’s Finest Award naming her the Most Outstanding Student Attorney in the World
Two Grady Student Attorneys have won Outstanding Student Attorney Awards in every round of the Regional and State Competition in which they competed in a season — Matt Westmoreland and Archie “Reggie” Kinnane.
At the 2009 National High School Championships held in Atlanta, GA, Gus Rick was one of only 3 Student Witnesses at that competition to be named an Outstanding Student Witness. To achieve that honor Gus had to be named the Outstanding Student Witness in at least 3 of the 4 rounds of competition.
At the 2010 Empire World Championship, Shaun Kleber was the only one student to win both an Outstanding Student Attorney Award AND an Outstanding Student Witness Award.
Coaching Achievements
2000 – Carl Gebo, Lead Attorney Coach, named Outstanding Attorney Coach of the Year* by State Bar of Georgia’s Young Lawyers Division, Georgia High School Mock Trial Competition.
2009 – Jay Patton named Outstanding Attorney Coach of the Year by State Bar of Georgia’s Young Lawyers Division, Georgia High School Mock Trial Competition.
2005 – Larry McCurdy named Outstanding Teacher Coach of the Year* by State Bar of Georgia’s Young Lawyers Division, Georgia High School Mock Trial Competition.
2010 – Trinh Huynh named Outstanding Attorney Coach of the Year by State Bar of Georgia’s Young Lawyers Division, Georgia High School Mock Trial Competition.
Relationships with Law Firms
1995 Grady High School Mock Trial Program established. Sponsored by the law firm of Powell Goldstein Frazer & Murphy, Lou Sartor served as the team’s first Teacher Coach. Chris Galanek and Carl Gebo, both Powell Goldstein attorneys served as the team’s first Attorney Coaches.
1995 - 2007 Powell Goldstein sponsored Grady High School Mock Trial
2010 - 2011 Horne & Gebo LLC sponsored Grady High School Mock Trial
2008 - 2010 Alston & Bird LLP sponsored Grady High School Mock Trial
2011 - 2014 Eversheds Sutherland (formerly Sutherland Asbill & Brennan) hosted the team's practices
Interesting Facts
Contact Us for Additional Information:
Carl Gebo
Lead Attorney Coach
carl.gebo@gradyhsmocktrial.org
Andrew Copeland
Teacher Coach
amcopeland@atlanta.k12.ga.us
Grady High School Mock Trial Foundation
925B Peachtree Street, Suite 386
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 219-4516