Huntington High School Wins Region VIII of the New York State Bar Association Mock Trial Competition
5.4.2022
Huntington High School topped dozens of other Suffolk County teams to win the Region VIII championship of the New York State Bar Association’s Mock Trial competition.
The team is made up of more than a dozen high school students who spent months preparing to try a hypothetical case from both the prosecution and the defense side of the aisle. Team members took on roles as attorneys, witnesses, legal researchers and writers. Judges scored teams on several factors including professionalism.
The Huntington Blue Devils faced the Ward Melville Patriots in the regional finals held in Suffolk County. The Blue Devils were the defendants in the final round to clinch the regional win. The team is led by Emily Geller and Christopher Maichin, both seniors.
“I feel like we were the underdogs coming in because we haven’t been in the county competition for so many years. I don’t know if anybody was really expecting us to make it that far; so it was really awesome to be able to face those tough challenges and win,” Geller said.
“It was great to be able to go back into the courtroom this year where we haven’t been since our sophomore year,” Maichin said.
The Huntington teacher-coach, Suzi Biagi, says this year’s Mock Trial team developed close bonds. “The team really rallied together, really became even more of a family. We have family dinners, they practice nights and weekends, they are just an amazing crew.”
Here is a video of team members provided by NYSBA.
2022 NY State Mock Trial Tournament Semi Finalists – Huntington High School from New York State Bar Association
Each regional winner moves onto the semifinal round set for May 23. The top two teams in the semifinals face off in the final round to determine a New York State Mock Trial champion on May 24.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, regional winners met in Albany for the competition. This year, the semifinals and finals will be held virtually. The New York State Bar Association and The Bar Foundation hope to host the return of in-person competition in 2023.
The NYSBA Mock Trial program celebrates its 40th year of competition this year. More than 4,000 high school students representing 400 teams were part of the competition.
The New York State High School Mock Trial Program is sponsored by the New York State Bar Association’s Law, Youth and Citizenship Committee. The New York Bar Foundation provides part of the funding
