Senior Zach Tomasovic gives testimony Friday while being questioned by Shannon Gallagher, portraying an attorney, during a practice session conducted by the Butler High School mock trial team at the the school library. The team won at the district and regional level and has made it to the state competiton for the first time.

BUTLER TWP — Shannon Gallagher can cite from memory rules of evidence in a courtroom. Madison Kerr prefers to write them on her palms. But, as members of Butler High School's mock trial team, both are headed to state competition.

"I like the law aspect," Gallagher said. "Arguing is always fun."

Kerr, a senior, joined the team just this year to fill a spot left by a graduating senior. Gallagher, also a senior, has been with the team since it formed four years ago.

When teacher John Lesjack started with the Butler School District, he wanted to bring the mock trial opportunity to the students. He started the after-school club and said his group of students has worked hard since. Many of them are trained in theater and act their parts with talent, he said.

"You have to look up because you really believe he's a cop or a sleazy lawyer," he said.

The club teaches public speaking, critical thinking and writing, he said.

In the competition, each student takes on a role such as lawyer or witness as the students try a fictional case in a simulated trial. The jury is a group of lawyers and nonlawyers who evaluate the students based on preparation, arguments, and the ability to follow court rules.

Trying a case concerning the murder of a Philadelphia financial adviser the night of Game 5 of the World Series, the group this year won both the district and regional competitions. It is one of 12 teams to make it to the state competition from the 339 that entered the competition. It is the first time the Butler team has reached that level.

The state competition will be March 26 and 27 in Harrisburg.

At the regional competition, the team beat notoriously tough Beaver High School.

Gallagher said she was on the team that won Butler High's first trial and is proud now to be headed to the state competition.

The group, which also includes Patrick Fitz, Stefan Kemp, David Thompson, Zach Tomasovic, Steven Wuchina and Mara Shingleton, has been practicing most every school day for three months, getting to know the details of the case and rehearse their parts.

"They have put in so much work," said co-adviser and teacher Kristy Smith.

Shingleton, a senior who does the cross-examination of witnesses, said she gets attached to cases and has saved all the paperwork from the cases she has worked.

In past years, it was tough for her when the mock trial season ended short, Shingleton said. "When the road ended at Beaver, it was heartbreaking," she said.

While "Boston Legal" is a popular TV show in the library room where the team practices, Shingleton is the only one considering a career in law. She said she's learned about courtroom etiquette.

"I never knew it wasn't proper for women to wear opened-toe shoes until the night before my first trial," she said.

Smith said the students have worked hard, and now are enjoying their success as they prepare for state competition.

"We goof off in practice, but when it comes down to it, we buckle down and do it," Gallagher said.