Warren High School Mock Trial team member Abby Whitted, left, pictured with teammate Natalie Norman at a regional competition in February, was among the students who nominated adviser Jason Johnson for a statewide award for mock trial coaching excellence. (Photo provided)

VINCENT — To longtime Warren High School teacher Jason Johnson, a recent statewide award is less about what he’s done than what he’s fortunate enough to get to do.

Johnson received the 2025 Lori Urogdy Eiler Award for Mock Trial Coaching Excellence earlier this month at the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education’s Mock Trial Conference in Columbus.

Named in honor of Eiler, a retired teacher and former mock trial adviser at Shaw High School in East Cleveland, the award recognizes a mock trial teacher, legal adviser, volunteer or administrator whose dedication and selflessness in giving their time, as well as their knowledge and skills, makes a difference in the lives of students, according to a release from OCLRE.

“I’m humbled,” Johnson said.

Johnson has taught at Warren for 34 years, these days teaching psychology, African American history, American government and mock trial.

“Every period, I turn around and I’m teaching something new,” he said.

Johnson got involved with mock trial about 10 years ago, after the program had been dormant for a little while around the retirement of previous adviser Kim Wile.

“I brought it back as a club first and then convinced my principal that it was worthwhile as a class,” he said.

The reason?

“It’s about how to handle civil discourse,” Johnson said. “If we need (to learn) anything in this time period, it’s how to disagree civilly.”

As an example of how disparate ideologies can coexist, he pointed to the highest level of the American legal system, Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Antonin Scalia.

“Politically, they were about as far apart as you can be,” Johnson said. “And yet they took family vacations together.”

While mock trial students must learn 200 pages of case law, witness statements and exhibits and craft winning arguments for both sides of a case to advance in competition, Johnson said how they conduct themselves in and out of the competition is important.

“Even when we go to state, people notice Warren’s students are polite,” he said.

Johnson is quick to emphasize he’s not taking credit for his students’ behavior.

“They’re already good kids when I meet them, but to think that I helped teach that skill of civility in society or even hone it … that’s huge,” he said.

His students seem to appreciate it, too, as they’re the ones who nominated him for the award, for “his dedication to our mock trial team, his students, and his school,” the nomination read.

“Mr. Johnson has extensive knowledge about mock trial and life, which he shares generously,” it said. “Mr. Johnson does not limit students in the slightest… he shows an outstanding amount of care and commitment to every student. He believes in every student’s potential and pushes everyone to be their best…The Warren Mock Trial team is extremely thankful to Jason Johnson for everything that he does for the team, the school, and each individual.”

Johnson noted he does not work alone, thanking local attorneys Robin Bozian, Ray Smith and Cameron Cantley for donating “hours to make our teams successful.”

“It’s almost like a legal internship for our kids,” he said.

Johnson said all mock trial activities must be student-led. Advisers give them feedback but the students weave together the material to make their arguments.

The Ohio Center for Law-Related Education is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization sponsored by the Supreme Court of Ohio, Ohio Attorney General, Ohio State Bar Association and the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio Foundation. More information about OCLRE and its programs is available online at www.oclre.org.