Hunter College High School Crowned NYSBA Mock Trial State Champions
5.19.2026
Calling the prosecution’s case as slippery as oil, the Hunter College High School mock trial team earned a not guilty verdict for its client and won the New York State Bar Association’s Mock Trial State Title. The final trial between Hunter and Fayetteville-Manlius High School was held in the James T. Foley United States Courthouse in Albany.
The Manhattan high school team represented fictional defendant, A. Carmen Erickson, in a petit larceny and resisting arrest case involving the theft of used cooking oil from a barbecue restaurant. The case brought together witnesses with old grudges and fierce loyalties while also hinting at an improper relationship between the defendant and his parole officer.
Was this a case of retaliation after being fired from the restaurant or a rush to judgment by law enforcement based on past history dating back more than ten years in a small town?
Both mock trial teams were skilled in going after witnesses on cross examination and exposing inconsistencies. Student attorneys were animated before the court and solid in their performances. The defendants claimed they were playing an online video game at the time of the crime – but both were in different locations.
The prosecution closed by saying “just because the lights are on doesn’t mean anyone’s home.” The defense called the police investigation hasty and noted that law enforcement lacked forensic evidence placing the defendant at the crime scene.
Before giving the verdict, Justice Craig Hannah of the Appellate Division, Fourth Department, praised both teams for their preparedness and professionalism.
“The closings were amazing; you are all winners,” he said, adding, “This shows that if you put in the time, the sweat equity, the world is your oyster.”
Members and advisers from the six other regional winning teams watched the final trial after competing in the two-day tournament. After the win, Hunter students praised their opponents for throwing some curveballs.
“Today we really saw new strategies [from the prosecution] that we had to plan for on the fly and I’m really proud of how the team was able to adapt and overcome some difficulties,” said Hunter teammate Robert Cashan.
The Hunter team says its loss to Nottingham High School in the finals last year was a key motivator. The team credits its success to a “next man up” mentality where rising seniors are prepared to lead the team and compete at a high level.
“We really are a family, and we are really close friends. We love mock trial; we love hanging out with each other and helping each other improve. It’s genuinely a passion for all of us to be here,” said Hunter senior Eva Gealap.
The NYSBA Mock Trial program celebrates its 44th year of competition 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 Law, Youth and Citizenship Committee. The New York Bar Foundation provides some of the funding.
Check out these photographs from the trial in our Mock Trial Flickr Album
