The North Carolina Mock Trial Competition As a proactive implementation of American Government, Civics and practical application of the law, The High School students at Charlotte Islamic Academy competed in Ashville against seven area high school in the annual Mock Trial competition, sponsored by the Carolina Center for Civic Education. The Carolina Center for Civic Education believes that teaching high school students about our justice system and trial-by-jury is crucial to preserving our rights as citizens. Our mission is to create engaged citizens through the hands-on learning activity of mock trial, thereby enabling students to gain the civic understanding, self-confidence, analytical reasoning, and communications skills that are vital for tomorrow's leaders. Each year, hundreds of students from all across the state gather inside courthouses to participate in the North Carolina Advocates for Justice High School Mock Trial Competition. Through the involvement of judges, attorneys, paralegals, teachers, and students, courtrooms are turned into classrooms. The focus of the Mock Trial program is education; it is designed to: • Improve students' public speaking, writing, listening, and critical thinking skills; • Encourage effective communication between the educational and legal communities; • Promote tolerance, professionalism, and cooperation among young people of diverse interests