National High School Mock Trial Championship

Last updated

The National High School Mock Trial Championship is an American nationwide competition of high school mock trial teams. Hundreds, and even thousands of teams participate in district, regional, and state tournaments to select one champion team to represent each of the 50 states. The competition debuted in 1984 in Des Moines, Iowa, with teams representing Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Wisconsin. [1]

Contents

Iowa has been the most successful state in the competition, setting a record in 2023 with its fifth national championship. Georgia has earned the title four times, while Washington State and Tennessee have each won the national championship three times. California, New Jersey, South Carolina, Indiana, New Mexico, and Arizona have all won twice.

Winners

Past winners and runners-up of the competition include the following schools: [2]

YearHost CityWinnerSecond Place
1984Des Moines, IowaNebraska - Ogallala High School Minnesota - Cloquet High School
1985 Lincoln, Nebraska Texas - Richard King High School unknown
1986 Phoenix, Arizona Iowa - Lincoln High School Wisconsin - Superior High School
1987 Washington, D.C. Arizona - Xavier College Preparatory Iowa - Marshalltown High School
1988 Dallas, Texas South Carolina - Socastee High School Texas - Westlake High School
1989 Louisville, Kentucky Wisconsin - Rhinelander High School California - John Marshall High School [3] [4]
1990 Portland, Oregon Colorado - Evergreen High School Ohio - Shaw High School
1991 New Orleans, Louisiana New Jersey - Bergen Catholic High School Texas - Richard King High School
1992 Madison, Wisconsin Ohio - Shaw High School Texas - Richard King High School
1993 Atlanta, Georgia Mississippi - South Pike High School Ohio - Shaw High School
1994 Chicago, Illinois California - Arlington High School Rhode Island - Classical High School
1995 Denver, Colorado Georgia - South Gwinnett High School Delaware - St. Mark's High School
1996 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Michigan - Kalamazoo Central High School Arizona - Deer Valley High School
1997 Nashville, Tennessee Arizona - Deer Valley High SchoolTennessee - Clinton High School, Tennessee
1998 Albuquerque, New Mexico New Jersey - Cherry Hill High School East Guam - Southern High School
1999 St. Louis, Missouri Georgia - Clarke Central High School Colorado - Regis Jesuit High School
2000 Columbia, South Carolina Washington - Franklin High School North Carolina - Asheboro High School
2001 Omaha, Nebraska Iowa - Pocahontas High School New Jersey - Montclair High School
2002 St. Paul, Minnesota Tennessee - Family Christian Academy HomeschoolersPennsylvania - Quigley Catholic High School
2003New Orleans, LouisianaTennessee - Family Christian Academy HomeschoolersColorado - Glenwood Springs High School
2004 Orlando, Florida South Carolina - Bob Jones Academy Wisconsin - Rhinelander High School
2005 Charlotte, North Carolina California - Tamalpais High School Hawaii - Kauai High School
2006 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Iowa - Valley High School Michigan - Kalamazoo Central High School
2007Dallas, TexasGeorgia - Jonesboro High School Michigan - Kalamazoo Central High School
2008 Wilmington, Delaware Georgia - Jonesboro High SchoolMichigan - Kalamazoo Central High School
2009Atlanta, GeorgiaIndiana - John Adams High School Minnesota - Lakeville North High School
2010 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Minnesota - Breck School Illinois - Hinsdale Central High School
2011 Phoenix, Arizona Indiana - John Adams High School Missouri - MICDS
2012 Albuquerque, New Mexico New Mexico - Albuquerque Academy Georgia - Henry W. Grady High School
2013Indianapolis, IndianaNew Mexico - Albuquerque AcademyCalifornia - La Reina High School
2014Madison, WisconsinWashington - Seattle Preparatory School South Carolina - North Myrtle Beach High School
2015Raleigh, North CarolinaNebraska - Duchesne AcademyGeorgia - Northview High School
2016Boise, IdahoIowa - Marion Home School Assistance ProgramNebraska - Duchesne Academy
2017Hartford, ConnecticutNorth Carolina - Central Carolina HomeschoolersMichigan - Kalamazoo Central High School
2018Reno, NevadaWashington - Franklin High School Minnesota - Nova Classical Academy
2019Athens, GeorgiaTennessee - Agathos Classical SchoolNebraska - Creighton Preparatory School
2021Evansville, Indiana*Maryland - The Park School of Baltimore Iowa - Iowa City High School
2022Kalamazoo, Michigan*Kentucky - Montgomery County High School Georgia - Northview High School
2023Little Rock, ArkansasIowa - Ankeny High School New Mexico - Albuquerque Academy
2024Wilmington, Delaware Pennsylvania - Abington Heights High SchoolTexas - Booker T. Washington High School
2025Phoenix, ArizonaTBDTBD
2026Des Moines, IowaTBDTBD
2026St. Louis, MissouriTBDTBD

*The 2021 and 2022 NHSMTC were held virtually over Zoom because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Controversy

2005

The Torah Academy of Bergen County from Teaneck, New Jersey had won its state's 2005 competition, but faced difficulties in its ultimately successful effort to gain accommodations to participate in the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina without being required to compete during the Jewish Sabbath. [5]

The American Mock Trial Invitational was created in 2006 by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation and the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers as an alternative competition to address concerns of religious commitments by competing school teams. [6] [5]

2009

Maimonides School of Brookline, Massachusetts won the 2009 Massachusetts state championship and desired to participate in the national championship in Atlanta, Georgia. Due to religious dietary restrictions and Shabbat observance the school asked for accommodation in order to participate without violating their religious beliefs. The school asked for two trials to be changed from Saturday to Thursday or Friday in order to avoid violating Shabbat. In response the school obtained attorney Nathan Lewin to represent the school. Lewin filed a complaint with the US Department of Justice alleging religious discrimination and a violation of civil rights. [7] Attorney Elizabeth Price resigned from the Georgia State Bar in protest over the National Board refusing to grant the requests for accommodation. [8] The Anti-Defamation League sent a letter of protest to the National Board complaining against the lack of reasonable accommodation, asking the National Board not to punish children for their religious beliefs. [9] The United States Congress condemned the National Board for failing to provide for these accommodations. [10] On May 7, 2009, Fulton County Superior Court Chief Judge Doris Downs ruled that unless the competition would accommodate the Orthodox Jewish students, then the courthouse would not be allowed to be used for the competition. [11] [8] [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mock trial</span> Simulation of court hearings

A mock trial is an act or imitation trial. It is similar to a moot court, but mock trials simulate lower-court trials, while moot court simulates appellate court hearings. Attorneys preparing for a real trial might use a mock trial consisting of volunteers as role players to test theories or experiment with each other. Mock trial is also the name of an extracurricular program in which students participate in rehearsed trials to learn about the legal system in a competitive manner. Interscholastic mock trials take place on all levels including primary school, middle school, high school, college, and law school. Mock trial is often taught in conjunction with a course in trial advocacy or takes place as an after school enrichment activity. Some gifted and talented programs may also take place in one.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramaz School</span> Private school in New York City, United States

The Ramaz School is an American coeducational Jewish Modern Orthodox day school which offers a dual curriculum of general studies taught in English and Judaic studies taught in Hebrew. The school is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. It has an early childhood center (nursery-kindergarten), a lower school, a middle school, and an upper school.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bergen Catholic High School</span> Catholic schools in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States

Bergen Catholic High School is an all-male Roman Catholic high school in Oradell, in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in ninth through twelfth grade.

Valley High School (VHS) is a public high school located in West Des Moines, Iowa. VHS is a three-year comprehensive high school with approximately 2,000 students. The school hosts grades 10–12. It is run by the West Des Moines Community Schools. Freshmen attend a separate school, Valley Southwoods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Brunswick Township High School</span> High school in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States

North Brunswick Township High School (NBTHS) is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in North Brunswick, in Middlesex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades as the lone secondary school of the North Brunswick Township Public Schools. The school is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools.

Mainland Regional High School is a regional public high school and school district serving students in grades nine through twelve from the communities of Linwood, Northfield and Somers Point in Atlantic County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving a total population of over 25,000 in the three communities. The high school is located in Linwood. Mainland Regional High School has been recognized by the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program, the highest honor that an American school can achieve. The school is the only facility of the Mainland Regional High School District.

Wallkill Valley Regional High School is a four-year public high school and regional school district serving students in ninth through twelfth grades from four municipalities in Sussex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The school is located in Hardyston Township, approximately 40 miles (64 km) northwest of New York City. The school is the lone facility of the Wallkill Valley Regional High School District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montclair High School (New Jersey)</span> High school in Essex County, New Jersey, United States

Montclair High School is a comprehensive four-year public high school located in Montclair, in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, serving students in ninth through twelfth grades as the lone secondary school of the Montclair Public School District. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1928.

Bergen County Technical Schools (BCTS) is a county technical school district that serves as the vocational / technical education arm of all the school districts within the 70 municipalities in Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The primary programs offered are the Bergen County Academies and Bergen County Technical High School. It has its headquarters in Paramus.

Maimonides School is a coeducational, Modern Orthodox, Jewish day school located in Brookline, Massachusetts. The school was founded in 1937 by Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik and his wife Tonya Soloveitchik. It is named after Rabbi Moses Maimonides.

The Livingston Public Schools are a comprehensive community public school district that serves students in pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade from Livingston, in Essex County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The district consists of six elementary schools, grades PreK/K-5; one middle school for grade 6 and another middle school for grades 7 and 8, and one four-year high school.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Torah Academy of Bergen County</span> Yeshiva high school in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States

Torah Academy of Bergen County is a four-year yeshiva high school located in Teaneck, in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. The school utilizes a split-schedule day offering both Jewish studies and college preparatory secular courses. The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donovan Catholic High School</span> High school in Ocean County, New Jersey, US

Donovan Catholic High School, is a Roman Catholic high school located in Toms River, in Ocean County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Operating under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton, it is the county's only Catholic high school. Located in the coastal community of Toms River Township, the school originally opened in 1962 as St. Joseph High School, but was renamed as Monsignor Donovan High School in 1983, after founder Msgr. Lawrence Donovan. The school adopted its current name in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cherry Hill High School West</span> Public high school in Camden County, New Jersey, United States

Cherry Hill High School West is a four-year comprehensive public high school, serving students in ninth grade through twelfth grades in Cherry Hill, Camden County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as part of the Cherry Hill Public Schools. Cherry Hill West is one of three high schools in the district; the others are Cherry Hill High School East and Cherry Hill Alternative High School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middle Township High School</span> High school in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States

Middle Township High School is a four-year public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Middle Township in Cape May County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as part of the Middle Township Public Schools. In addition to students from Middle Township, students from Avalon, Dennis Township, Stone Harbor and Woodbine attend the high school as part of sending/receiving relationships with their respective school districts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bordentown Regional High School</span> High school in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States

Bordentown Regional High School is a comprehensive public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from five communities in northern Burlington County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey, operating as the lone secondary school of the Bordentown Regional School District. The high school serves Bordentown City, Bordentown Township, and Fieldsboro Borough. The New Hanover Township School District, consisting of New Hanover Township and Wrightstown Borough, sends students to the Bordentown district on a tuition basis for grades 9-12 as part of a sending/receiving relationship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glassboro High School</span> High school in Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States

Glassboro High School is a comprehensive community public high school that serves students in ninth through twelfth grades from Glassboro, in Gloucester County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It is the sole secondary school of the Glassboro Public Schools.

The American Mock Trial Invitational (AMTI) is a national mock trial competition for high schools in the United States, created and administered by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation and the North Carolina Advocates for Justice.

In Judaism, a person who is shomer Shabbat or shomer Shabbos is a person who observes the mitzvot (commandments) associated with Judaism's Shabbat, or Sabbath, which begins at dusk on Friday and ends after sunset on Saturday.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noor-Ul-Iman School</span> Private school in Monmouth Junction, Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States

Noor-Ul-Iman School (NUI) is a private, non-profit, tax-exempt educational organization recognized by the New Jersey Department of Education and accredited by the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. It is a member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools, the Council of Islamic Schools of North America, the Islamic Schools League of America, and the New Jersey League of Islamic Schools.

References

  1. ↑ About the Competition, National High School Mock Trial Championship. Accessed July 1, 2007.
  2. ↑ Participant History & Past National Winners, National High School Mock Trial Championship. Accessed July 1, 2007.
  3. ↑ "Rhinelander Students Top Mock Trial Competition". St. Paul Pioneer Press. May 15, 1989. pp. 2B Metro. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  4. ↑ "Previous Results". Constitutional Rights Foundation. Retrieved May 9, 2010.
  5. 1 2 Aberback, Brian. " New mock trial contest arises from controversy", The Record (Bergen County) , February 24, 2006, accessed April 19, 2007.
  6. ↑ American Mock Trial Invitational, accessed April 19, 2007. Archived February 8, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ Brown, Robbie (May 6, 2009). "National Mock Trial Competition Encounters a Real Legal Challenge". The New York Times.
  8. 1 2 "Georgia: Resignation Over Trial Contest". The New York Times. May 7, 2009.
  9. ↑ "Mock Trial Association Relents: Jewish School Wins Full Participation In Competition". www.adl.org. Archived from the original on 2009-05-11.
  10. ↑ "The Cutting Edge News".
  11. ↑ "FOX 5 Atlanta". 16 December 2021.
  12. ↑ "Maimonides School: News & Events". www.maimonides.org. Archived from the original on 2011-06-09.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.