Court was in session at The University of Tulsa’s College of Law – and the jury was made up of third-, fourth- and fifth-graders.
Jefferson Elementary’s speech and debate team visited campus for “The Trial of Gold E. Locks,” a playful courtroom program inspired by the traditional Goldilocks tale and built around one central question: Did Gold E. Locks have bad manners? Students filled the jury box in UTulsa Law’s courtroom, where they learned how a trial works, reviewed evidence and delivered a verdict.
The event was led by Professor Margo Shipley, with law students from the Student Bar Association volunteering their time to bring the story to life. SBA members took on the roles of Mom A. Bear, Pop A. Bear, Baby Bear, Gold E. Locks, attorneys, witnesses and even the judge, guiding the elementary students through opening statements, witness testimony and closing arguments.
In the case of Bear v. Gold E. Locks, the Bears alleged that Gold E. Locks entered their home uninvited, ate porridge, broke a chair and fell asleep in a bed upstairs. The defense argued she believed the open door was an invitation and that any harm was accidental. Evidence exhibits, including bowls, a broken chair and a pillow, illustrated the claims.
The mock trial also marked a return of a longtime UTulsa Law tradition. Years ago, the College of Law hosted Kendall Court, inviting local elementary students to campus for similar courtroom experiences. Shipley (J.D. ’14) remembers the program firsthand – she once played Gold E. Locks herself as a law student – and revived the tradition after being invited to speak to Jefferson Elementary students about law school and legal careers.
“I believe that as attorneys, professors and law students, we are called to use our knowledge and skill to serve our community here in Tulsa,” Shipley said. “My hope is that by welcoming these students into the College of Law for a mock trial, we can give them a vision for what law school and a legal career would look like.”
After deliberating, the student jurors delivered a guilty verdict and stayed for a lively discussion about trials, evidence and courtroom procedure, leaving with a clearer understanding of how the legal system works.