A verdict on behalf of the plaintiff or the defendant depended on the arguments of some of Chattanooga’s brightest and most promising young minds on February 22 in the finals of the Hamilton County division of the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Mock Trial Tournament. In this year’s case, an insurance company asks a jury to relieve it of the obligation to pay the claim of a blue jeans manufacturer whose plant burned down under dubious circumstances. Suspicious behavior, illicit relationships and expert testimony all figure in to the trial. CSTHEA-Green (Homeschool) successfully argued its position against Signal Mountain High School-A, while McCallie-1 secured the verdict in its contest against Ooltewah High School-Red. Eighteen Hamilton County teams competed to reach the finals, which took place at the Hamilton County General Sessions Court building; the winners will move on to the state competition in Nashville in March. Pictured: Abigail Till of CSTEHA addresses the jury as Criminal Court Judge Don W. Poole looks on.(Photograph by Sue Hughbanks)