St Rose Teams Win Mock Trial Competition

St Rose School sent two teams of upper-grade students to the first round of the 10th Annual Middle School Mock Trial Competition and both teams emerged as winners.

The competition, held on December 7 at Bethel Middle School, was sponsored by the Connecticut Consortium for Law and Citizenship Education. The students were engaged in a trial entitled “Lesley Parker v New Justice County School Board,” which entailed events that resulted in a student injury in a science lab.

Students took roles as plaintiff, defendant, attorneys, and witnesses. They had to learn about opening and closing arguments, objecting, and cross-examining.

Both St Rose teams have been invited back to the second round of the competition, to be held on January 20.

St Rose team members are Taylor Brady, Connor Byrne, Jack Curry, Greg Davis, Julia Davis, Emily Marussich, Ryan O’Keefe, Anna Maria Marini, Adrianna Mihalek, Brittany Mortera, Nicole Nonnemacher, Andrew Hyeon, John Kerins, Nick Pedalino, and Bridget Power.

Volunteer legal coaches for the St Rose team included Judge Mihalokos and parents Edward Brady, Thomas and Joanne Davis, and Ed Walsh. Teacher Joseph DeMaida served as the teams’ advisor and Maureen Marini was a parent volunteer.