Mock Trial

Mock Trial is an academic competition where students combine speech/debate, drama, legal, and quick thinking skills into a trial format. AMHS Mock Trial students compete against other high schools after writing their own case and acting out attorney and witness roles in front of real-life attorneys and judges. These attorneys and judges score the teams in the basis of legal, presentation, and acting skills. The top teams in Washington compete at the State Mock Trial Championships with the winner moving in to the National High School Mock Trial Championship. Established in 2005, the AMHS Mock Trial team has finished in the top - 10 at State a total of 7 times, capturing 2nd place in 2014.

FRESHMEN SUMMER CAMP

MIDDLE SCHOOL SUMMER CAMP

EMPIRE CHICAGO

AWARDS

2021: 13th Place State Finish
2020: State Qualifier
2019: 14th Place
2018 -18th Place State Finish
2017- 4th Place State Finish
2016 - 3rd Place State Finish
2015 - 7th and 8th Place State Finish
2014 - 2nd Place State Finish
2013 - 3rd Place State Finish
2012 - 18th Place State Finish
2011- 3rd Place State Finish
2010 - 6th Place State Finish

HISTORY/AWARDS

AMHS MOCK TRIAL (founded in 2005)

7 District Championships (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2017, 2019)
6 Top-6 Rankings at State Meet (5th in 2007, 6th in 2008, 6th in 2010, 3rd in 2011, 3rd in 2013, 2nd in 2014, 4th in 2017)
State Runner-Up in 2014, appeared in championship trial on government cable channel TVW in May, 2014
Competed at the American Mock Trial Invitational, North Carolina (2008)
Competed at the Empire Mock Trial Invitational in San Francisco (2016)
Received YMCA Values Award for Respect, Courtesy, and Professionalism (2011, 2013, 2015)
The Honorable Robert J. Bryan American Inn of Court Scholarship winners: Annie Dang (2012), Claudia Morales (2014)
Mock Trial Alumni competing in College Mock Trial: Jessica Elekes--Gonzaga, Amy Purdy—Notre Dame, Jake Dini—Gonzaga, Hillary Longoria—Gonzaga, Chris Damitio—UW
2015: JV 7th at State, Varsity 8th at State. YMCA Values Award winners.
2016: Varsity 3rd at State, JV 18th at State. Zane Carlton 2016 Inns of Court Scholarship Winner. Jessica Elekes graduates from Seattle University School of Law. Jake Dini ('11) enrolled at University of Washington School of Law.

EVENTS

Middle School Mock Trial Competition

In an impressive display of organization, presentation skills, and teamwork, 12 middle school students from schools all over Snohomish County participated in the 3rd Annual AMHS Middle School Mock Trial Camp, culminating in a full trial held at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Friday, June 21.

The event was hosted by the Archbishop Murphy Mock Trial team. Judge Ken Williams presided over the trial, which was rated by AMHS mock trial coach Roger Brodniak. AMHS mock trial students Jaida Ivy, Thea Zabala, Mitch Abramson, Blake Coleman, Ashley Crawford, Andrew Davenport, and Eric Yarnot also served as raters and camp counselors. Each skillfully coached various middle school campers all week long.

The 2019 middle school mock trial camp case involved a fictitious theft prosecution of Tyler Banks, a teenager accused of stealing $3,000 from the ATM debit card and pin of her best friend's mother. Campers were instructed in several skills during the week-long camp, including legal case theory, research and organization, presentation, thinking on your feet, team building, acting, and legal rules of evidence.

Students receiving special recognition included:

Best Witness: Ivy Gonzalez, Chloe Hogue

Best Attorney: Kathleen Joyce, Sophie St. Jacques

Honorable Mention Best Witness: Olivia Leslie

Honorable Mention Best Attorney: Elliott Montoya

Other participating students included:

Graham Cumpston, Audrey Gibson, Cady Richardson, Troy Slocum, Grayson Thomas, and Samuel Thomas

Special thanks to Judge Janice Ellis for facilitating use of courtroom space at the Snohomish County Courthouse.

The Archbishop Murphy Mock Trial Program also sponsors a middle school mock trial tournament each January. This year, St. Mary Magdalene, Immaculate Conception-Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and St. Thomas More will field teams that will compete against one another at the Snohomish County Courthouse. If you would like more information about the middle school mock trial tournament, or mock trial in general, please contact AMHS head coach Jennifer Flynn at jflynn@am-hs.org.

Main Menu

In This Section