Representing Massachusetts, Newton North High School placed eighth out of 46 teams in the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Reno, Nevada, on May 10-12. Each year approximately 30,000 students participate in local high school mock trial competitions throughout the United States, Guam, South Korea and the Northern Mariana Islands. Between four rounds and two full days of competitions, students, coaches, judges, parents and supporters had an opportunity to enjoy nightly events and take in all the sights, sounds, flavors and fun that Reno offers.
Newton North High School earned the right to compete in the national championship by winning the Massachusetts Bar Association's Mock Trial State Championship against its in-town rival, Newton South High School. The state title was Newton North’s 11th since 1988, with their most recent prior championship coming in 2016.
The students competing for Newton North High School at the national championship were:
- Jeanne Duong
- Tara Ersen
- Claire Gardner
- Einta Gavish
- Ilai Gavish
- Sonya Gelfand
- Nathalie Hart
- Jeanette Hurwitz
- Hadley Iselin
- Henry Isselbacher
- Emma Larson
- Madeline Ranalli
- Joseph Silagi
- Jack Sullivan
- Malia Sung
- Maya Waldman
- Nina Wang
- Kevin Wu
Team Massachusetts was coached by Silvia Dupont, Patrick Hannon, Esq. and Joshua McGuire, Esq.
A portion of Newton North High School's trip to the national tournament was funded by a $2,500 donation from the Massachusetts Bar Foundation, the philanthropic partner of the Massachusetts Bar Association.
Started in 1985, the Massachusetts Bar Association's Mock Trial Program completed its 33rd year in 2018. The competition places high school teams from across the state in simulated courtroom situations where they assume the roles of lawyers, defendants and witnesses in hypothetical cases. More than 1,500 students at 133 high schools competed in this year's competition.
The Mock Trial Program is administered by the Massachusetts Bar Association, with support from the Massachusetts Bar Foundation and Morrison Mahoney LLP. More than 140 lawyers across the state volunteer as coaches and judges.