NJSBF.org - Foundation's American Mock Trial Invitational Sets Record; Complaint Filed Against Rival Competition

Foundation's American Mock Trial Invitational Sets Record; Complaint Filed Against Rival Competition

BAR FOUNDATION’S AMERICAN MOCK TRIAL INVITATIONAL SETS PARTICIPATION RECORD; COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST RIVAL COMPETITON

A record number of high school mock trial finalists from around the nation and as far away as Canada and South Korea took part in the fourth annual American Mock Trial Invitational (AMTI) in New Brunswick in May. Twenty-six teams—nearly double the fourteen who took part in 2007 when the AMTI was last held in the Garden State—representing those countries as well as California, Florida, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Washington faced off in the 2009 competition.

A highlight of the three-day AMTI event for the approximately 500 students and their supporters was a trip to Ellis Island, where the Hon. Stuart Rabner, Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court, described how Ellis Island helped a nation of immigrants become Americans and how diversity has strengthened the country.

In the case all the teams presented, Campbell v Cornwall, plaintiff Cameron Campbell, a teenager severely burned in a fire, sued defendant T. K. Cornwall, owner of the barn in which the fire occurred. The mock trials took place in the Middlesex County Courthouse, with Judge Travis L. Francis presiding over the championship round.

After four rounds in the AMTI, Menlo School from Atherton, California, School emerged triumphant, persuading the jury to side with its argument. A coin toss had Menlo acting as the defense team opposite the plaintiff’s team, second-place finisher Victory Christian Center School, Charlotte, North Carolina. Ultimately Menlo scored more ballot points and the AMTI championship. The three New Jersey teams in competition—Marshall Academy, Mainland Regional High School and North Brunswick High School—placed fifth, fourteenth and eighteenth, respectively.

But while one fictitious drama was unfolding in mock court, a real-life drama was being played out in another courtroom.

AMTI was established in 2006 by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation and the North Carolina Advocates for Justice to permit high school state mock trial champions with weekend religious obligations to compete in a national forum on weekdays. That move was necessitated by the refusal four years ago of the National High School Mock Trial Championship (NHSMTC) to alter its policy of not allowing rescheduled competitions for Sabbath observers, such as Torah Academy of Bergen County. The Foundation, that year’s host, took a principled stand, working with Bergen County Congressman Steven Rothman and the North Carolina group until a consensus was reached with NHSMTC. Although things went smoothly and no team complained about the minor schedule changes, NHSMTC resumed its no-accommodations policy immediately afterwards.

In 2009 history repeated itself. The same situation occurred with Maimonides School of Massachusetts at this year’s NHSMTC, hosted by the Georgia State Bar Association. NHSMTC’s rejection of the school’s request for a similar rescheduling resulted in parents and school officials hiring a lawyer who filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Justice. In the midst of the ongoing battle, a judge in the Superior Court of Fulton County, Atlanta, notified the NHSMTC that the Court would withdraw the use of its facilities if the former did not ensure full participation by every team. NHSMTC grudgingly acquiesced, again on a one-time basis, but inserted asterisks and wording in its program materials that impugned the validity of the school’s score—and promptly reaffirmed its no-accommodations rule. “This is not how it should be,” said Justice Rabner. “NHSMTC’s policy sends the wrong message.”

Foundation president Mary Ellen Tully agreed. “Freedom to exercise religion is a fundamental guarantee in the First Amendment to the Constitution,” she said. “Students learning about the law and the justice system should not have to forfeit matches or be viewed as less than full participants because of religious affiliation.”

In addition to its sensitivity to students’ religious needs, AMTI does not interfere with proms, advanced placement exams or Mother’s Day, as it is scheduled on early weekdays. AMTI is the only nationwide mock trial competition that allows representation by more than one team—in fact, as many as three of a state or country’s top six championship teams are eligible to participate. To learn more about AMTI, please contact Sheila Boro, 732-937-7519.

Founded in 1958, the New Jersey State Bar Foundation is the educational and philanthropic arm of the New Jersey State Bar Association. The Bar Foundation’s mission is to promote public understanding of the law through a free, comprehensive public education program. Among its activities, the Foundation conducts seminars and conflict resolution training, publishes materials, operates a videotape loan library and speakers bureau, and coordinates elementary, middle and high school mock trial competitions. For more information about the Foundation's programs and publications, visit us online at www.njsbf.org or call 1-800-FREE-LAW.

- NJSBF -