![Student lawyer speaks at the podium during the Mock Trial competition.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1743077349/oubocesorg/o8w0fwglvpihtug7aij3/20250322MockTrial178web.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1743077349/oubocesorg/o8w0fwglvpihtug7aij3/20250322MockTrial178web.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1743077349/oubocesorg/o8w0fwglvpihtug7aij3/20250322MockTrial178web.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1743077349/oubocesorg/o8w0fwglvpihtug7aij3/20250322MockTrial178web.jpg","width":1000}])
- Mock Trial
The Mock Trial Program began its 2025 multi-round competition on Saturday, March 22, with teams from Chester, Goshen, James I. O'Neill, Minisink Valley, Middletown, Monroe-Woodbury, Newburgh Free Academy, Port Jervis, S.S. Seward, Storm King School, Valley Central, Warwick Valley, and Washingtonville.
The high school teams faced off in "courtrooms" argued their cases before Orange County judges. Eight of the participating teams scored enough points to advance to the next rounds.
New York State Mock Trial Tournament is an educational program designed to teach secondary students basic legal and trial skills. Students learn how to conduct direct and cross examinations, how to present opening and closing statements, how to think on their feet, and learn the dynamics of a courtroom. Students also learn how to analyze legal issues and apply the law to the facts of a case. On the state level, the Mock Trial Program is sponsored by the New York State Bar Association. Locally, the program is sponsored and coordinated by Orange-Ulster BOCES in collaboration with the Honorable Craig S. Brown and the Honorable Kimberly Van Haaster.
Local judges, attorneys, legal professionals, and educators volunteer their time to preside over the mock courtrooms and assist with running the program. All those involved in the Mock Trial Program dedicate a great deal of time preparing for the trials. For the 2025 tournament, the students are arguing a fictitious civil case: “Leyton Manns vs. Sandy Townes,” involving AI-generated materials allegedly produced by the defendant, a high school student, and posted on the Internet that defamed the plaintiff, the former superintendent of the school district.
The advancing teams that will move on to the next rounds are from Chester, Goshen, James I. O'Neill, Monroe-Woodbury, S.S. Seward, Valley Central, Warwick and Washingtonville. The four single-elimination trials between the advancing teams will be held in the Emanuel Axelrod Education Center at OU BOCES on Saturday, April 5, 2025, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The four prevailing teams will then progress to the semi-final trials, to be held that afternoon.
The winner of the Mock Trial Tournament moves on to the Regional Tournament and from there, they have the opportunity to progress to the New York State Mock Trial Tournament to be held in Albany on May 18-20, 2025.
For more information about the Mock Trial Tournament, please contact Melanie Lofaro, Assistant Director of Instructional Support Services, at Orange-Ulster BOCES (845) 781-4363, extension 10702 or melanie.lofaro@ouboces.org.
