Search

‘Elite Eight’ Advance in Mass. Bar Association’s Mock Trial Program

Thursday, Mar. 9, 2017
Top two teams to meet in State Championship at Faneuil Hall on March 24
Article Picture
The Mock Trial's regional competition was held at Clark University in Worcester on March 5.

Eight high schools have advanced to the quarterfinals of the Massachusetts Bar Association's 32nd Annual Statewide High School Mock Trial Program. The quarterfinalists ("Elite Eight") are:

  • Region #5 - Thayer Academy, Braintree
  • Region #7 - Newton North High School, Newton
  • Region #9 - Canton High School, Canton
  • Region #11 - Franklin High School, Franklin
  • Region #13 - The Winsor School, Boston
  • Region #17 - Malden Catholic High School, Malden
  • Region #20 - Marblehead High School, Marblehead
  • Region #26 - Ayer Shirley Regional High School, Ayer

The eight quarterfinalists advanced from a field of 32 teams at a statewide regional competition held at Clark University in Worcester on Sunday, March 5. More than 600 students and judges participated during this round of 32 teams, which was held in a one day, one site format.

The remaining eight teams will meet for "Elite Eight" and "Final Four" rounds on Tuesday, March 14, at the Worcester County Courthouse. Two finalists will advance to the state championship on March 24, at Faneuil Hall in Boston. The winning team will secure the state championship and advance to the national competition in Hartford, Connecticut, in May.

More than 1,500 students at more than 130 high schools across the state participated in the annual program, in which students turn their classrooms into courtrooms to assume the roles of both lawyers and witnesses. The MBA's Mock Trial Program, which began in 1985, is administered by the Massachusetts Bar Association with support from the Massachusetts Bar Foundation and Morrison Mahoney LLP. More than 100 lawyers across the state volunteer as coaches and judges.