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Malden Catholic High School Wins Mass. Bar Association’s 2022 Mock Trial State Championship

Friday, March 18, 2022Mock Trial Central

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Malden Catholic Wins Mass. Bar Association’s 2022 Mock Trial State Championship

Advances to nationals after prevailing over South Hadley’s Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School in virtual finals

BOSTON, Mass. — Malden Catholic High School was today named State Champion of the Massachusetts Bar Association’s 2022 High School Mock Trial Program. Malden Catholic prevailed against Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public School in South Hadley (PVPA) at the 36th Annual Statewide High School Mock Trial Competition Finals, which was conducted virtually. The state title is Malden Catholic’s first Mock Trial state championship.

Next up for Malden Catholic is the National High School Mock Trial Championship, which will also be conducted virtually, May 5–7. 

Started in 1985, the Massachusetts Bar Association’s Mock Trial Program began its 36th year in January. Ninety-five (95) high schools from around Massachusetts competed in the 2022 program, which placed high school teams from across the state in simulated courtroom situations where they assumed the roles of lawyers, defendants and witnesses in hypothetical cases. The teams competed in over 150 trials using a virtual format from January through March.

This year, the teams were presented with a criminal case using the following scenario: On Nov. 29, 2019, Alex MacArthur, Katherine Denger and Clarke Painter drove to Leo’s Convenience Store for the alleged purpose of collecting an alleged debt that one of the store employees, Hank Isselback, owed to Painter. Gunplay ensued, and Isselback’s sibling, Dan/i, was fatally shot by MacArthur. MacArthur pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is awaiting sentencing. Denger has been charged with accessory to murder and is awaiting trial. In this case, the defendant, Painter, is charged with first-degree felony murder for their participation as joint venturer with MacArthur and Denger in the commission or attempted commission of the predicate felony of armed robbery, which resulted in the death of Dan/i Isselback. Malden Catholic played the role of the defense in the finals, and PVPA played the role of the prosecution. 

The state championship was judged by a three-member panel (a presiding judge, and two scoring judges), similar to the process used at the national mock trial competition. This year’s judging panel included Hon. Peter M. Lauriat (Ret.), Massachusetts Superior Court, presiding judge; Hon. Bonnie MacLeod (Ret.), Massachusetts Superior Court, scoring judge; and Paul J. Klehm, Esq., partner at Krasnoo, Klehm & Falkner LLP in Andover, scoring judge.

Before the championship round commenced, MBA President Thomas M. Bond welcomed the teams and spoke to the students about how participating in Mock Trial will benefit them in their future careers. “No matter what job or business you’re in, or what career, if you can understand a subject and get up and teach it, it’s going to be so helpful to be able to convince and persuade. That’s what any job requires you to do,” Bond said. “To think on your feet, to see both sides of an argument, these are great transferable skills, and you got a great start here.”

The Mock Trial Program is administered by the Massachusetts Bar Association. Nearly 80 lawyers and judges across the state also volunteered as coaches and judges this year.

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First organized in 1985, the Mock Trial Program's tournament places high school students in a simulated courtroom to assume the roles of lawyers and witnesses in a hypothetical case. Thousands of students at more than 130 schools across the commonwealth are participating. More than 100 lawyers and judges across the state will serve as volunteer coaches and judges.

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