Beginning in late April and concluding on May 29, ALHS mock trial adviser Neil Chalmers guided 12 Southwest Middle School eighth-grade students through a mock-trial-gifted-education program.  The trial of the State of Independence v. Terry Jackson was held at the Freeborn County Courthouse in front of 24 spectators and five mock trial alumni including Judge Eric Schwab, scorekeepers Kari Opdahl, Jasmine Porter, Bailiff Abraham Swee, and photographer Brandi Hagen. Terry Jackson, played by Andy Ehrhardt, is a a high school senior charged with negligent homicide when the defendant’s car rolls over throwing teenage passenger Renee Carter from the vehicle. Renee suffers significant injuries that lead to her death a week later. Witnesses in this case include West High School students Chris Nelson (Kelli Sanderson), Samantha Carter (Marleny Huerta-Apanco), local resident Pat Jones (Katie Williamson), expert witnesses Officer Fran Demlong (Lani Hanson), and Accident Reconstructionist Jackie Payne (Becca Allen).  Representing the state of Independence were Co-counsel Karli Kriewal, Mark McGivern, and Alex Hagen. Representing Terry Jackson were co-counsel Ella Otten, J.B. Miller and Ben Leisen. Terry Jackson was found not guilty of negligent homicide while the prosecution won the trial by 11 points.  Former and current ALHS Mock Trial Team members assisted with this activity.