Mock Trial - MMI Preparatory School

Members of the MMI Preparatory School Mock Trial Red Team, which placed second in the 2009 Monroe County Invitational Mock Trial Tournament, and students who won individual awards for their participation are, from left, front: Bobby Dougherty, Diana Anthony, Taylor Olian, Justin Sheen, and Anthony Alfieri. Back: Advisor Dennis Clarke, Rod Cook, Jacob Slusser, Robert Yamulla, Alaina Titus, Alyson Klush, Megan Veglia, and Connor McNelis.

Mock Trial is an after-school academic club that provides students with a fun and exciting glimpse into the world of law. MMI faculty member Dennis Clarke, MMI alumnae Nicole Clarke and Kelci Scirrotto, and the Honorable Correale Stevens, judge of the Pennsylvania Superior Court, coach MMI’s Mock Trial team. The team competes in numerous competitions throughout northeastern Pennsylvania.

For the second year in a row, an MMI Preparatory School Mock Trial team was undefeated after four trials in the Monroe County Invitational Mock Trial Tournament. Since there was no head-to-head competition between the top two teams, the tiebreaker was based upon total points from the judges, so the MMI Red Team placed second. The tournament was held Saturday, November 21 at Notre Dame High School in East Stroudsburg. Fourteen teams from 12 schools competed.

Members of the Red Team were: Diana Anthony, Taylor Olian, Megan Veglia, Alaina Titus, Jacob Slusser, Robert Yamulla, Rod Cook, Connor McNelis, Alyson Klush, and Bobby Dougherty.

The fictional trial this year was a criminal case entitled “The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Jordan Cooper.” Jordan Cooper was charged with assault and disorderly conduct for an incident at a Town Hall meeting in which he tackled Dakota McCudden, who was waving a gun in the air. In addition to the two involved in the incident, two other witnesses, Park Lufberry and Shay Voss, also testified.

Members of the teams played the roles of witnesses or attorneys for each trial. All witnesses had to undergo a direct examination from their own attorney and a cross examination from the opposing lawyer. Finally, each attorney had to complete two parts, such as opening statement, direct examination, cross examination, or closing argument.

Seniors Taylor Olian and Diana Anthony and freshman Justin Sheen won individual trophies for Outstanding Tournament Attorney. Senior Bobby Dougherty and freshman Anthony Alfieri also won individual honors as Outstanding Tournament Witness.

MMI had two teams participating in the trials and each had to present both the defense and Commonwealth sides of the case before a jury made up of practicing attorneys.  

The White Team, which was made up of students mostly new to Mock Trial, won two of their four trials. Members of the White Team are, from left, front: Caroline Bandurska, Megan Kost, Audrey McNelis, Gabby Lobitz, Anthony Alfieri, Zachary Marchetti, and Justin Sheen. Andrew Mhley and Noah Beltrami also competed for the MMI White Team.

The 2009-10 MMI Mock Trial team started preparing in September. The team will continue to practice in preparation for the annual Pennsylvania Bar Association Statewide Mock Trial that will be held at the Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre in February.

The annual Pennsylvania Bar Association Statewide Mock Trial is held at the Luzerne County Courthouse in Wilkes-Barre. Each member of the teams played the roles of witnesses or attorneys for each trial. Each witness had to undergo a direct examination from his or her own attorney and a cross-examination from the opposing lawyer. Each attorney had to prepare two parts, choosing from an opening statement, direct examination, cross-examination, and closing argument.

MMI had two teams participating in the trials in February of 2009. Each team presented both the defense and Commonwealth sides of the case before a sitting judge and a jury made up of practicing attorneys. After the first two trials, MMI’s Red Team was undefeated and competed in the district semi-final trial.

Several of the MMI Mock Trial members were honored with certificates recognizing them as “Best Witness” or “Best Advocate,” which was awarded by the opposing team members. They are: Best Advocate: Rod Cook, Jacob Slusser, Diana Anthony, Kelci Scirotto, and Megan Veglia; and Best Witness: Caroline Bandurska, Leeann Conyers, Traci Smith, and Morgan Palermo.

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