2024 High School Debate Championship 3.08.2024

For more than two decades, The City Club of Cleveland has hosted the annual High School Debate Championship.
Every year, the top two area high school debaters square off in a classic "Lincoln-Douglas" style debate at a Friday forum. This allows the debaters to compete-not only for the judges and audience in the room-but also for our radio and television audiences.
The debaters will be Max Zukerman of Solon High School, coached by Trina Castro and Matt Hill; and Brooke Gemechu of Hawken School, coached by Robert Shurtz and Eva Lamberson.
The finalists will debate the topic Resolved: The primary objective of the United States criminal justice system ought to be rehabilitation.
On behalf of BakerHostetler, we are honored to support this annual tradition in memory of Patrick Jordan--a lawyer, fierce protector of democracy and free speech, and a championship debater himself.
Speakers
Brooke Gemechu
Student, Hawken School
Max Zukerman
Student, Solon High School
Moderators
Kaitlyn Ernst
Student, Laurel School; and 2023 High School Debate Champion
Michael K. McIntyre
Executive Editor, Ideastream Public Media