Mock Trial Team   2010-11

Advisor : Mr Grealish

The Mock Trial Team Won their 1st Match Vs. Chelsea this past Monday January 31st. The Team has two more “regular” season matches Vs. Melrose (Thursday 2/10) and (Thursday 2/17) Vs. Everett.

Team Members are: Yasmin Badr, Nicole Collins, Daybelis Delarosa, Eric Rondeau, Sean Reid, Adam Andemichael, Christopher Gonzalez and Jonathan Dorson.

 

 

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2009-2010

Lynn Classical and Marblehead High are  finalists in Mock Trial Program

Daily Item - Lynn Classical and Marblehead High School are among the 16 Bay State high schools named Sweet 16 regional finalists in the 25th annual Mock Trial Program presented by the Massachusetts Bar Association. They will continue in the program by competing in trials throughout this week.

The Sweet 16 winners vied for their titles by competing in trials throughout January, February and early March. More than 100 high schools across the state initially signed up to participate in the program.

The Mock Trial Program places high school teams in a simulated courtroom situation, where they take on the roles of plaintiff attorneys, defense attorneys and witnesses. Local attorneys serve as both team coaches and judges of the trials.

This year's civil case involves an individual who loses a large sum of money after investing a daughter's college fund with a brokerage firm financial advisor. The case focuses on whether the firm and/or the advisor are responsible for the loss.

After this week's trials, the 16 regional winners will be whittled down to eight teams. Those eight will compete next week for a chance to reach the semi-final elimination round, where four teams will face off during trials held simultaneously on March 22 in Boston and Worcester.

The two remaining teams will compete for the state championship at 10 a.m. on March 26 at Boston's Faneuil Hall. In 2009, Maimonides School of Brookline won the state championship and placed 20th in the national tournament.

The Mock Trial Program is administered by the MBA and made possible by the international law firm of Brown Rudnick through its Center for the Public Interest in Boston, which has contributed $25,000 per year to the program since 1998.

 

The Mock Trial Team Beats Winthrop - - - Going to the 'Sweet Sixteen'

3/2/2010 - Our  'lawyers of the future' are really coming into their own and peaking as the Season progresses. This puts the Team in the "Sweet Sixteen" Bracket (out of 120+ teams state wide) and they will have this Match/Trial next week (opponent, location and time T.B.A.).

 
The Judge made special note of our students exceptional Courtroom demeanor and decorum; They really "did us all proud" today.

 

Mock Trial Team Wins Three in a Row

The Mock Trial Team has moved to 3-0 and find themselves prepped and ready to go for a push in the playoffs. The team consists of only two returning team members from last year, co-captains, Peter Rondeau and Larry Cheung. Mr. Grealish is the head coach of the team and is assisted by Judge Kerman and the Judge's wife Mrs. Kerman.

Judge Kerman has been a Trial Judge for 20 years and a trial lawyer for 20 years before that. He has been a part of various mock trial teams since the early 1980's, when he saw a friend of his coach a Junior High team down in Cape Cod. He joined the Classical team last year and both he and his wife have given very generously of their time (at least three days per week, for at least two hours per practice session) and have been an essential part of the team's success. He said "there is a great program here; there is a lot of talent at Classical; and that he has had lots of fun coaching the Team." Mrs. Kerman said " I think I have seen better lawyering from some of these kids then some lawyers in the courtroom."  

The team's next trial is sometime in the first week of March, hope to see you there.

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2008-09 Team

Mock Trial Team Postseason Hopes Shattered by One Point 

by Christopher Lewis

            On February 12th, 2009, the LCHS Mock Trial team went into their trial against Our Lady of Nazareth at the Lynn Police Station undefeated, needing only one more victory to get into Mock Trial postseason play.  Our Lady of Nazareth was in the same position as the Rams and what ensued was one of the best Mock Trial cases all season.  The Rams were used to being dominant by their smart objections and  using no notes throughout the trial (which is very rare.)  Our Lady of Nazareth  met them point for point today.  Lawrence Cheung started with a good opening statement for the Prosecution.  Katie Fitzgerald continued with a good direct of Gill Graham.

  The trial was a dead tie all the way down to closing statements when James Marconi attempted to pull out all the stops, giving what the judge called one of the best closing statements he has ever heard.  James scored a perfect 10, ending the trial with a bang.  The judge then departed to his chambers with both school coaches.  After about 10 minutes, the judge and the coaches returned with the verdict.  Losing by one point was Lynn Classical.  The judge said the difference was Our Lady’s of Nazareth winning the verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.  The team, saddened by the results, could not help but be a little discouraged, but it was a great season.  The Team had 6 seniors so the rebuilding will be tough for Peter Rondeau and Lawrence Cheung.  A special acknowledgement goes out to the six seniors: Sarai Zelada, Chris Lazcano, Edwin Cabrera, Katie Fitzgerald, Michael Shea, and James Marconi.

 
Lynn Classical Mock Trial Team Wins in Court

By: Christopher Lewis

Walking through the halls of Lynn Classical you see a lot of faces but you never know what strengths or special talents they may possess. At Lynn Classical one of the best kept secrets is the mock trial team. Last year the Mock Trial team made it to the Elite Eight before being defeated by Central Catholic. After a tough loss the team started recruiting.

James Marconi, Edwin Cabrera, and Sarai Zelada sat down and started thinking about next year and how they would field an even better team with 7 of its 10 members graduating. Without hesitation they added some of the best and brightest LCHS has to offer. This year's team consists of 9 members. James Marconi, Edwin Cabrera, Sarai Zelada, Chris Lazcano, Katie Fitzgerald, Zack Houghton, Michael Shea, Peter Rondeau, and Lawrence Cheung.

The team started practicing early, holding its first practices in early October. A whole month before they even knew what the case was even about. They did not let this time go to waste. Under the tutelage of the Honorable Judge David Kerman, the team added a well developed finish to what already looked like a no-nonsense team. This year's trial is about a Marine who was discharged from the USMC with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and killed a former high school classmate on the Fourth of July. Although the case never changes, the judge is never the same so the team must be at its best each trial.

On January 30th, 2009 the team had its first trial against LCHS rival Lynn English at Lynn District Court. The rivalry was on. Accompanying the team was a group of "Roadies" and some parents and faculty members. Great performances where given by the entire team, especially Lawrence Cheung and James Marconi, who had solid opening and closing statements, respectively. The Mock Trial team won by a comfortable margin. Coach Mr. Grealish is very happy with his teams win against their rival, stating the hard work given by the kids and the help by Judge Kerman and Mrs. Kerman, being the keys to the victory.

Their next trial is Thursday February 5, 2009 against Everett at Malden District Court at 1:30. The best of luck to our Mock Trial Team and thanks to all the support from parents, faculty, and students.

(Christopher M. Lewis is President of the LCHS Class of 2009 President and an outstanding 'Roadie'.)
 

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2007-08

RAMS  MOCK  TRIAL  TEAM  IN  ELITE  8

            On Thursday, at Lynn District Court, our Lynn Classical Mock Trial Team chalked up their 1st win of the State Tournament against the undefeated St. Johns Prep. They now advance to the Elite 8, the next round in the Tournament. The trial came down to the wire with the score 95-92. There were many on hand for the event including Principal Mr. White, Officer Emery, Head Football Coach Mr. Durgin and many teachers. The Classical Roadies also showed up to support the team.

            Classical advances to the next round as a force to be reckoned with in the state, showing that they can win by defeating St. Johns , who were finalists last year. Many traits make this years team a strong one but team member Bobby Adams says it’s teamwork that brings it all together. “We are really looking forward to our next trial, we know what we have to do and we trust each other, that’s all you need, we are going to take it one trial at a time”. The Rams next Trial is Sunday at 2:00 in Salem . If they win, they will advance to the state Semi-Finals. The Rams Mock Trial Team and coach Frank Grealish would like to thank everyone who continues to support the team on the road to glory. GO RAMS!  

Written by B. Adams

Lynn Classical Mock Trial team members, back row from left: Lauren Marnik, Richard Montibello, James Marconi, Edwin Cabrera. Front row: Megan Pierre, Erin McCall, Alexander Rittershaus, Bobby Adams and John Zall. Item photo / Owen O'Rourke

Classical Mock Trial Team Eyes Championship

By Dan Baer / The Daily Item, March 3, 2008

LYNN - If you had Lynn Classical High School making it to the Sweet 16 in your Mock Trial office pool, your bracket is still looking strong.

Heading into March with an undefeated 3-0 record, the Mock Trial team is awaiting their next opponent, either St. John's Prep or Ipswich High School, contingent on a competition between the two this week.

If they secure another victory, they will move on to the elite eight, just like the NCAA basketball tournament.

Although the competition in the courtroom differs in style from that on the hardwood, the match-ups are often just as close with the margin of victory rarely more than a few points.

For example, Mock Trial Coach Frank Grealish said last year's team, with nearly all of the same members as this year, finished their season 0-3, and never lost by more than two points.

The annual Mock Trial competition, sponsored by the Massachusetts Bar Association, pits teams of middle and high school students against one another in a complicated and involved jury trial, judged by actual judges and attorneys who give out points on a scale of 0-10 based on each individual performance.

Each November, the Massachusetts Bar Association releases the details of the case, usually rotating between civil and criminal trials. Team members choose what role they would like to play, everything from attorney to witness, and are judged individually based on their performance during the trial.

This year, the assigned case is a civil sexual harassment case, with complicated elements that will challenge the team members on both sides of the argument.

Every competition involves the same case, but judges are different every time, so participants have to be at the top of their game in every element of their performance.

"In order to score well they have to be disciplined and work as a team. A lawyer and a witness have to work well with one another," said Grealish. "The main thing the bar emphasizes is constructive criticism and professionalism. You really have to learn how to act, and also to roll with the punches, because every judge is different. One judge could focus on one thing, and the next time you go to a competition the judge may not look at that part of it at all. You can't get flustered, sometimes you kind of see the novice participants getting frustrated, and you have to avoid that."

Training for the competitions is both time-consuming and difficult to organize. Team members say the most difficult part of being on the team is coming up with a way to get everyone together.

The team is also getting some hands-on training at Lynn District Court, as probation officer Donald Castle and Judge Albert S. Conlon have allowed the team to come in and view court proceedings, and even go before the judge and practice for the competition.

Students say the professionals give them advice on appearance and attitude, and presented constructive criticism on how to act in a real courtroom setting.

The team has also served as jurors in a Harvard Law School Mock Trial case.

Team members are excited to be heading for the next round of the competition, and fully believe they are the best team in the state.

For some senior members a win would be slightly more meaningful this year, as they have been a part of the Mock Trial team since middle school and would like to go out as state champions.

"We have a very good team this year," said captain Alexander Rittershaus. "I am very proud."

Team members thanked family members and the First Lutheran Church for supporting the team, along with the Massachusetts Bar for their continued funding of the Mock Trial tournament.

Grealish said the team is not sure when they will have their next competition, but it will take place some time next week when the scheduling is complete.

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 The goal of the Mock Trial Team is to give students an understanding of the law, court procedures, and the legal system while helping them hone their analytical, listening, and speaking skills.

 Cases are given to the Team by the Massachusetts Bar Association.

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