In popular culture and in card games, deuces signifies a card, say a two of diamonds. 

A team of seven students from Duchesne brought home the state mock trial championship for the second year in a row, shining the light on blending academic studies with real world experience - a true gem of stature for the students and a nod to their school and the Nebraska educational system.

During a base of 15 years or more of participating at the state level, this school has won five Nebraska state mock trial championships, an impressive record that baseball fans would admire for at-bat percentage hits. Not to mention two winning seasons in a row status sought after by Chicago Cubs fans.

Speaking of sports, in many ways, a mock trial championship compares to the rally cry a women’s volleyball or men’s football team embraces, while their fans support and chant through the high school athletic department year, leading to state competitions.

2024 Win Voiced by Seven Solid Students

Senior Claire Jeffries, the Team Captain, comes from a family lineage of lawyers and strong alumnae women of character including her aunt Carmen Ahern and mother Sylvia Angel. As an eighth grader, Jeffries decided to follow in her family footsteps and heart posture after contemplating going to another high school, breaking family tradition.

During her four years at Duchesne, she has been grateful to have made a wise decision. Her mother is a Catholic elementary educator, her aunt is a graduate, and Meg Brudney, Head of School, is related. Rick Jeffries, her father, is a volunteer team coach and lawyer.

Jeffries found her niche at Duchesne, celebrating her mock trial competition team’s experience, as her greatest source of friendship and support.

Last year the school’s team placed twelfth nationally in Wilmington, Delaware, just missing placement among the top ten schools that carried trophies back home.

While bigger goals of a national mock trial championship have been affirmed by her talented teammates, Jeffries has a mature viewpoint about the value of her four years of competition pursuit and the eventual results of her final national tournament.

Jeffries said “The team is so special that I want to do one more case (competition) with them. Every moment with the seven girls on the team is special. We are each other’s best friends.  We are so close with everyone.”

Jeffries continued this thought when she said, “I am so proud of our community. The team is striving for excellence and a win as national mock trial champions.”  She adds, “As a senior, I get to be with my best friends and experience one more final national tournament.”

LeClara Gilreath, M.A., the high school team’s Business or General Manager, put this tournament’s quest into perspective when she described the seven students as amazing young ladies representing the Duchesne community.

Over Christmas break during December 2024, Jeffries was thrilled to receive a binding early acceptance offer from the University of Chicago, a mid-sized college in Chicago, Illinois.

Jeffries loved her walking tour of the campus with her aunt and pictured herself at a school focused on students exploring many disciplines while pursuing their major field of study.

Legacy of Smart and Hard Work

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart has written a distinguished history in national high school mock trial competitions. Notably, the institution secured the National Championship in 2015 and claimed second place in 2016.

Historically, Duchesne Academy's mock trial team has performed well at the national championship level as well. The school's mock trial program has garnered national recognition earning 12th place in 2024. This year’s team is striving for a national title in the 2025 championship this May, when the team flies to Phoenix, Arizona.

In 2024, Duchesne Academy's mock trial team achieved a commendable performance at the national championship, marking their return as reigning state champions and striving toward excellence. This year’s team embraces their future with a rally cry of a national championship goal as their vision within their sights in 2025, as shared by Jeffries. Claire’s father Rick is an Attorney and inspiration for his daughter, though she credits him for not pressuring her into a legal career field.

Students Manifesting Future Career Path Including Law School

The annual mock trial competition sponsored by the Omaha Bar Association offers students an immersive experience regarding the work and lifestyle of an attorney.

Long hours of studies during the competition season, plus each semester’s coursework, with the possibility of an up to four-year commitment, typify the student’s path. This type of career adventure is an admirable job experience for the students, as they are provided guidance from volunteer attorneys, backed with the support of their business manager, History faculty member LeClara Gilreath, and the entire student body.

Mark Laughlin, a parent and volunteer Attorney Coach, underscores the nation that their win and this article’s voice is focused on the student’s incredible dedication and commitment to their budding craft. Their state championship win directly correlates to consistent and persistent effort and words put into action, with a shared desire to strive for excellence, this year’s team’s mantra.

Congratulations to all the students who have found their best friends in school via the Mock Trial Varsity Team, a sentiment clearly articulated by their Team Captain speaking on their behalf.

This Tournament Sequence Mirrors a Law Practice and Trial Scenario

Some background on the competition is necessary to more fully appreciate the long hours students sign up for as part of representing their school and their academic and personal reputations.

The competition is run by the Nebraska Bar Foundation. The state is divided into ten regions. Each region has a regional competition and the winner advances to the state tournament.

The location of the state tournament rotates year to year.  2024’s winning verdict was announced at the site of the state championship held in the Federal Courthouse located in Downtown Omaha.  The Omaha region has the highest number of teams participating in Nebraska.

Each year, the Bar Foundation releases a case. This year’s trial theme focused on a pedestrian who was struck by a driver. The legal issues rested on who was responsible for the accident. Student and school packets included three witness statements on both sides. (plaintiff/defendant). Each team had to prepare a plaintiff case and a defense case. The student attorneys were required to call all three witnesses.

Each team had to have three attorneys and three witnesses. There were also exhibits in the Foundation packet including rules of evidence, and standard practices in the legal profession, which applied to each trial, generally mirroring Nebraska’s rules of evidence in the legal profession and followed in courtroom trials. High school students were functioning as attorneys and had to understand, for example, the rules of relevance, hearsay, foundation, and other legal principles.

Each trial proceeded as follows: Plaintiff's Opening Statement; Defendant's Opening Statement, Plaintiff's first witness direct examination, Defendant's cross-examination of the first witness; Plaintiff's second witness (each witness is crossed, after the three Plaintiff's witnesses the three Defense witnesses are called and crossed); Plaintiff's Closing Argument; Defense's Closing Argument.

Duchense's Regional Competition Process

During the competition, there were three rounds after which the top two teams competed for the right to go to state. Each round was overseen by three judges who decided who won, in similar fashion to an actual court case where the verdict carries financial weight and legal consequences.

Duchesne won all three trials and all nine ballots, after which they beat Skutt Catholic in the Regional Finals to advance to the state championship.

Duchesne's 2024 State Courtroom Experience

There were three rounds in which all ten teams presented their public speaking skills and the case facts and dynamics. Then the top two teams competed in the State final round. Again, Duchesne won all three rounds and all nine ballots, competing well, facing a team from Perkins High School in the finals.

This winning team of seven bright ladies won the ballots from all judges in the finals. That means that, over the season, they earned an admirable record of eight wins and zero losses, while securing every one of the twenty-six ballots available. That achievement is very rare according to Mark Laughlin, a volunteer team coach and lawyer, who was celebrating Duchesne’s fifth state championship.

Trophies for state and national competitions remain at the school, encouraging future teams to follow this year’s performance example, in the same fashion as women’s basketball awards are displayed in trophy cases.  Future classes will be able to aspire to the true school pride embodied by all students who competed on Duschene’s three teams.

As the State Champion, Duchesne will represent Nebraska against approximately 46 other state teams at the National High School Mock Trial Championship which will be held in Phoenix, Arizona in May 2025.

Time And Talent Are a Labor of Love

Team practices were held at school, several law firms, by Zoom meetings, and in actual courtrooms giving real-world experience and a sense of the lifestyle an attorney encounters during a trial, actual case law, and working at their private practice or law firm.

Gold Coast Neighborhood High School Overview

Local residents may be surprised to learn that the grounds of Duchesne, as the school is commonly referred to, once housed a college that closed during the 1960s and still runs a preschool learning center.

The campus of trees and historic brick buildings graces the Gold Coast Neighborhood surrounded by gorgeous - and in some cases historic homes -plus Saint Cecilia Catholic Church, Omaha’s Cathedral, located at 701 North 40th Street.

About Duchesne Academy:

Duchesne Academy, an independent Catholic institution in Omaha, Nebraska, has fostered confident, compassionate young women since 1881. Nurtured within the faith-based Sacred Heart tradition, students at Duchesne engage in rigorous academic studies, creative exploration, and spiritual growth.

The school's curriculum integrates intellectual challenges with opportunities for personal development, cultivating critical thinking, leadership, and social responsibility among its student body. Faculty members employ diverse teaching methods to support individual learning journeys, preparing graduates for college and beyond.

Key values include faith-based education, social responsibility, academic excellence, creative expression, innovative learning, cultural sensitivity, and spiritual growth. Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart empowers students to lead change through active participation, respect for diversity, and commitment to intellectual curiosity.

Graduates are prepared for complex matters with poise and discernment, navigating local and global challenges with grace, integrity, and spiritual depth. Beyond the classroom, they become agents of transformation, engaging communities with wisdom and understanding. As part of the Network of Sacred Heart Schools, Duchesne Academy fosters inclusivity and respect for all faiths.

This institution's mission is not merely to educate; it is a transformative journey that equips young women to lead with poise, integrity, and spiritual depth throughout their lives.

Don Rashid is a media journalist and marketing professional, specializing in partnership marketing and entrepreneurial topics, with a dedicated interest in healthcare, nonprofit work, and a variety of business focused themes. Don also functions as a Chief Marketing Officer for clients, interested in working on large to small scale marketing, media, and journalism projects, including client business development needs.

He has written a number of news and feature cover stories for The Daily Record including pieces on the 2024 Commercial Real Estate Summit and a special eight page section on elected Douglas and Sarpy County Commissioners.

Don is open to coffee visits, freelance contract assignments, and employment opportunities, along with board positions.  Rashid can be reached at donaldjrashid1@gmail.com and by connecting via LinkedIn. He is open to speaking to large and small audiences covering  entrepreneurial topics and marketing themes.