Long before students from across the country gathered each year to compete on a national stage, the idea behind mock trial was already transforming legal education—placing students inside the courtroom to learn by doing. In Iowa, that idea found new life.

In the early 1980s, Richard Calkins, then Dean of the Drake University Law School, recognized the power of experiential learning and imagined something bold: bringing the rigor and realism of law school mock trials to high school students. With the support of Iowa’s legal community, that vision took root—establishing Iowa as a national leader in civic and legal education.

What followed was more than a successful program. It was the beginning of a movement.

In 1984, Des Moines hosted the inaugural National High School Mock Trial Championship, welcoming top teams from five Midwestern states. What began as a modest gathering quickly revealed its potential. Within a year, participation doubled. Soon, the competition was traveling from state to state, inspiring the creation of programs across the country and uniting them in a shared commitment to excellence.

At the same time, Dean Calkins’ influence extended beyond the high school level. As a founding force behind the American Mock Trial Association, he helped establish and grow collegiate mock trial into a thriving national activity—further cementing the role of experiential learning in shaping future advocates, leaders, and engaged citizens.

Today, more than four decades later, the National High School Mock Trial Championship brings together 48 teams representing 44 states, two U.S. territories, and international programs. Yet its enduring strength lies not only in competition, but in the shared experience of stepping into the roles of attorneys and witnesses—of grappling with questions of justice, responsibility, and truth.

From its roots here in Des Moines to courtrooms across the nation, mock trial continues to inspire generations of students to think critically, speak confidently, and engage meaningfully with the law.

And it all took shape here.