Halifax Community College’s Nursing and Criminal Justice Departments hosted a collaborative mock trial recently in the Dr. Ervin V. Griffin Sr. Centre. 

The cross-disciplinary project, developed by Kara Clary, nursing instructor, and Gary Redding, program chair of criminal justice and English instructor, gave students a hands-on opportunity to experience the courtroom process and explore the legal and ethical issues surrounding medical privacy.

The mock trial, State of North Carolina v. Jessica Morgan and Tara Simmons, was held in the fictional Halifax–Northampton County District Court. 

The case centered on two emergency room nurses accused of violating patient confidentiality by accessing and sharing a student’s medical record without authorization. Redding presided as judge during the mock trial, and Clary served as court clerk.

Josiah Ausby, a student at Roanoke Rapids Early College High School and Teen Court member, represented the defendants, while Moesha Harris, a criminal justice student, represented the State of North Carolina.

Nursing students Ashleigh Edwards and Shannon Ridout portrayed the defendants, while Abdul Sanyang, also a nursing student, served as the plaintiff.

Witnesses included Maddy Bryant, Alexis Kearney, Heather Carter, Philip Clayton, Samantha Parker, Lamont Gary, and Michael Fox.

The witnesses portrayed various roles, including ER nurses, a charge nurse, a nurse manager, a compliance officer, an IT analyst, a human resources investigator, and a clinical instructor. Together, they helped demonstrate the ethical and legal complexities of healthcare confidentiality.

The jury was composed of Portia Gadson, Vanecia Huggans, Sharon Chidharara, Ian Todaro, Emerald Contee, Ayannah Nicholson, Matthew Henley, Tavia Johnson, Alexis Wilson, Cassandra Tapit, and Kaitlyn Hubbard.

After deliberation, the jury found Tara Simmons not guilty, citing a lack of direct evidence. The case against Jessica Morgan resulted in a hung jury, reflecting the complexity of real-world courtroom decisions.

“This collaboration shows how nursing and criminal justice students can learn from each other’s disciplines,” said HCC President Patrena Elliott. “The scenario brings together law, ethics, and professional responsibility in a realistic way.”

The departments plan to continue the mock trial partnership to strengthen experiential learning, professional ethics, and communication skills across programs.

“The event exemplified Halifax Community College’s commitment to providing practical learning experiences that prepare students for professional success,” the college said.