The School Buzz: Canon City sophomore wins national title in law competition

A sophomore at Canon City High is already creating buzz by earning national recognition for a law competition.

Brooke Watley is just 16-years-old, yet won the top spot in the national Marshall Brennan Constitutional Literacy Project Moot Court Competition.

Basically, Brooke was named best overall petitioner in the country, winning a national championship, based on public speaking and interpreting law based on Supreme Court decisions. The competition was held virtually at the end of last month. Brooke said that she, along with her senior classmate, Logan Williams, were "actually the only two people to have ever competed from Cañon City High School.”

She  said, “This has been predominately a Denver school event.” To prepare, both Brooke and Logan attended a two-hour class every other week that was hosted by their mentors, third-year CU Boulder Law School students, Andrew Stephan and Danielle Trujillo, who graduated from CCHS in 2014. The high school students are also sponsored by various law schools which include Ivy League schools.

“This year our ‘problem’ centered around First Amendment rights, particularly to freedom of speech in schools,” Brooke said. “We didn’t argue any facts or information, it was simply what does the Constitution say we can or can not do based on cases the Supreme Court has decided.”

The purpose of the competition is to get high school students to display their public speaking skills, to network, and learn about careers in law. Brooke has an interest in Constitutional or civil law, but she also is considering a future in corporate law.

Do you know a remarkable student, teacher or happening at your school? Email me! SchoolBuzz@KRDO.com.