Hunter College High School Wins 2022 NYSBA Mock Trial Competition
6.1.2022
Hunter College High School in New York City beat Huntington High School from Long Island to win the 2022 Mock Trial State Competition. The two squared off in the final round on May 24th after beating out six other regional winning teams in the state semi-finals on May 23.
The competition was held virtually this year and was judged by federal, state, and local judges across New York. Judges score teams on several factors including professionalism in their presentation of a hypothetical case. The students prepare to try the case for both the prosecution and the defense. Team members take on roles as attorneys, witnesses, researchers, and writers.
Three seniors led the Hunter High School Mock Trial team this year. Leo Greenburg says the students developed a good chemistry and that was key to their success. “We really pride ourselves on our family feel for our school. Mock Trial is one of the most tightly-knit extracurricular teams in the whole school.”
Devanshi Shah agrees and says she learned a lot from previous team leaders on how to make it work. “Our team is very close; we get dinners together after trials. All that time together has helped us grow close both in trial competitions, but outside too.”
Victoria Freeman says the extensive audition process helps foster a fierce dedication among team members. She says their attorney advisers and teachers create an open environment that helps each team member grow. “They make it feel really collaborative, but they are tough on us and don’t hold back on the feedback.”
NYSBA produced team video
2022 NY State Mock Trial Champions – Hunter College High School from New York State Bar Association on Vimeo.
Eight regional teams competed in the May 23rd semifinals. The regional champions are City Honors School, Buffalo; High School of American Studies at Lehman College, Bronx; Albany Academy for Girls; Ossining High School; Huntington High School; Massapequa High School; Nottingham High School, Syracuse; and Hunter College High School, Manhattan.
The NYSBA Mock Trial program celebrates its 40th this year. There are 400 teams involving 4,000 high school students in the competition.
The program is sponsored by the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Law, Youth and Citizenship. The New York Bar Foundation provides some of the funding.
