The Pennsylvania Mock Trial Competition is a high school Mock Trial competition in Pennsylvania sponsored by the Pennsylvania Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. The winning school of the state finals advances to the National High School Mock Trial Championship. The Pennsylvania Mock Trial Competition first began in 1984.The Wisawe Chapter of Friends of Bog Turtles v. ZenoPharma, Inc- Introduction and Acknowledgements The case material is usually released early in November, within the first two weeks. Typically, 250 to 300 teams compete each year, making it one of the largest state competitions in the country. The Statewide Championship is held each year in late March at the Dauphin County Courthouse in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and consists of the top 12 to 16 teams in the state. As a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the 2020 Statewide Championship was cancelled and the entire 2021 and 2022 competition seasons were held virtually.
Trial format
Opening statements A trial starts with a 5-minute opening statement by the Plaintiff/Prosecution (depending on whether the case is civil or criminal, respectively), which is immediately followed by a 5-minute opening statement by the defense.
Witness testimony After opening statements, the plaintiff/prosecution calls its first witness. The plaintiff/prosecution conducts a direct examination of the witness, and then the defense conducts a cross-examination of the same witness. After cross-examination, the plaintiff/prosecution has the opportunity to conduct a redirect examination of the witness. If they do, the defense is given the chance to recross the witness. After either all four types of exams have been conducted or one party abstains from doing redirect or recross respectively, the witness steps down from the stand. This process is then repeated for two more plaintiff/prosecution witnesses. With the conclusion of testimony from the third plaintiff witness, the plaintiff rests. The defense then calls three witnesses in the same manner described above for the plaintiff/prosecution.
Each team has 30 minuteshttp://www.pabar.org/pdf/2013-14%20Rules%20of%20Competition%20w%20Changes%20-%2 for witness testimony, including all direct, cross, redirect, and recross examinations conducted by counsel of that team. (The clock does stop, however, for a variety of reasons, including, but not limited to, objections and parts of the process for entering exhibits.)
Closing arguments Once the third defense witness has finished giving testimony, the defense gives their closing argument. Like opening statements, closing arguments are limited to 5 minutes apiece. After the defense closes, the plaintiff/prosecution gives its closing statement. This is a deviation from standard courtroom procedure, in which the plaintiff/prosecution closes first, followed by the defense, after which the plaintiff/prosecution may offer a rebuttal. In Mock Trial, this deviation allows each team to have the opportunity to speak first, one for opening statements and one for closing arguments. Barring any disputes being raised, the second closing argument marks the conclusion of the trial, and the jury is dismissed to tally points.
Scoring and winner Each member of the jury scores each part of the trial based on specific scoring categories, such as the flow of a direct examination or the effectiveness of a cross-examination. Each opening statement or closing argument is worth a maximum of 10 points. Each direct or cross-examination is also worth, at most, 10 points. Each witness can earn a maximum of 10 points independent of any other points from the direct examination. There is one team evaluation category scored at the end of the trial, valued at a maximum of 10 points. Therefore, each team can earn up to 120 points during the trial.
On any juror's ballot, the team with more points is the winner of that scoresheet. Each juror indicates which team he/she would choose to win if the points of the scoresheet after any penalties are assessed, adds up to a tie. Each scoresheet is worth one vote. Whichever team receives more votes is declared the winner of the trial. If there is an even number of jurors and they have a split decision, the team with total points on all of the scoresheets is the winner.
Past cases
YearNameSubject of Case1997Marshall v. Priestley CollegeMarshall v. Priestley CollegeCivil Liability1998The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. WalkerCommonwealth v. WalkerConspiracy and Delivery of a Controlled Substance1999Smith v. LorcinSmith v. LorcinNegligence2000The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. KruppCommonwealth v. KruppVoluntary Manslaughter2001Gorey v. BushingGorey v. BushingCivil Liability2002The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. McGrathArson2003Day v. KnightNegligence2004The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Max AbilityTheft2005Gallo v. UrbanskiCivil Liability (and First Amendment Rights)2006The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. OlsonThird-Degree Murder2007Anderson v. WilliamsCyberstalking2008The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. SinclairCommonwealth v. SinclairKidnapping2009Hansbra v. Plane's Park & Polish, LLCNegligence2010The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Legan ArabachCommonwealth of PA v. Legan ArabachThird-Degree Murder2011The Estate of Simone Langston v. Dr. Lefu HarrisonThe Estate of Simone Langston v. Dr Lefu HarrisonCompetency to Consent 2012The Wisawe Chapter of Friends of Bog Turtles v. ZenoPharma, Inc.The Wisawe Chapter of Friends of Bog Turtles v. ZenoPharma, Inc.Critical Habitat Determination2013The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Tatum ZilliasCommonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Tatum ZilliasThird-Degree Murder2014The Estate of Jordan Simon v. Ruffed Grouse High SchoolWrongful Death2015The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Harper MarmalardFirst-Degree Murder2016Lilienthal Insurance, Inc. v. Natural Habitat PreserveInsurance Indemnification2017The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Taylor EdselArson2018Silva Morel v. Tiger Tail TechnologiesAdverse Employment Action2019The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Rae Shafer, M.D.https://www.pabar.org/pdf/mocktrial/2019/2019-Operation-PainAway-Final.pdf Drug Delivery Resulting in Death2020Addison Babbage v. Ruffed Grouse High SchoolNegligence2021Estate of George Romero v. Ashley WilliamsWrongful Death2022The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Edi ArcaroFirst-Degree Murder2023Estate of Alejandro Desafios v. Storm Chase LLCGross Negligence2024The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Addison BookerFirst-Degree Murder and Conspiracy to Commit Murder2025The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. Connie MacLeodBurglary and Grand Larceny2026Bo Bridger, an Incapacitated Person, by Jamie Bridger, Guardian v. Dr. Colter’s Family Medicine, LLPNegligence
State Finals Results YearWinnerPlace at NationalsRunner-up1987Central Cambria High School1988Bensalem High School4Bishop Carrol High School1989Bensalem High School1990Quigley Catholic High SchoolDelone Catholic High School1991Scranton Preparatory High School5Kiski Area High School1992Norristown Area High SchoolJ. P. McCaskey High School1993North Pocono High School26Bensalem High School1994Quigley Catholic High School9North Pocono High School1995Quigley Catholic High School20North Pocono High School1996Quigley Catholic High School10North Allegheny High School1997Overbrook High SchoolSeton LaSalle High School1998Punxsutawney Area High School30George Washington Carver High School of Engineering & Science1999Julia R. Masterman High SchoolPBA Press Release- March 18, 201015Quigley Catholic High School2000Quigley Catholic High SchoolPBA Press Release- April, 200021Mount Saint Joseph Academy2001Greensburg-Salem High SchoolPBA Press Release- April, 200118Devon Preparatory High School2002Quigley Catholic High SchoolPBA Press Release- March 23, 20022Gateway High School2003Gateway High SchoolPBA Press Release- March 31, 200322Quigley Catholic High School2004Overbrook High SchoolPBA Press Release- March 29, 200432Oliver High School2005Greensburg-Salem High SchoolWestmoreland Bar Association Newsletter- March-April 200512Scranton Preparatory High School2006Greensburg-Salem High SchoolPBA Press Release- April 3, 20064Julia R. Masterman High School2007Greensburg-Salem High SchoolPBA Press Release- March 31, 200714Scranton Preparatory High School2008Overbrook High SchoolPBA Press Release- March 29, 200815Greensburg-Salem High School2009Central High School (Blair Co.)PBA Press Release- March 28, 200910Overbrook High School2010Scranton Preparatory High SchoolPBA Press Release- March 27, 201010B. Reed Henderson High School2011Wyoming Seminary High SchoolPBA Press Release- March 26, 20116St. Joseph's Preparatory School2012Scranton Preparatory High School10J.P. McCaskey High School2013Quigley Catholic High School16Greensburg-Salem High School2014Altoona Area High School22Roman Catholic High School2015Quigley Catholic High School13Roman Catholic High School2016Quigley Catholic High School18Wyoming Seminary High School2017Greensburg-Salem High School30Roman Catholic High School2018Wyoming Seminary High School11Penn-Trafford High School2019Holy Cross High School9Germantown Friends School2020Cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic2021Abington Heights High School24Nazareth Area High School2022Abington Heights High School15St. Joseph's Preparatory School2023Roman Catholic High School19Cumberland Valley High School2024Abington Heights High School1Spring Grove Area High School2025Central High School (Phila. Co.)20Lower Merion High School2026Roman Catholic High School8Nazareth Area High School
Schools with multiple state finals appearances Appearances Team Wins Losses11Quigley Catholic High School927Greensburg-Salem High School525Scranton Preparatory High School325Roman Catholic High School234Overbrook High School3 13Abington Heights High School303Wyoming Seminary High School213Bensalem High School213North Pocono High School12 2Gateway High School112Julia R. Masterman High School1 1 2St. Joseph's Preparatory School0 2 2J. P. McCaskey High School0 2 2Nazareth Area High School02
References
External links Pennsylvania High School Mock Trial