NJSBF.org - American Mock Trial Invitational Results Announced

American Mock Trial Invitational Results Announced

AMERICAN MOCK TRIAL INVITATIONAL RESULTS ANNOUNCED

A New Jersey school cracked the top five in the New Jersey State Bar Foundation's fourth annual American Mock Trial Invitational (AMTI) high school competition. Marshall Academy of Mercer County placed fifth, while state champion Mainland Regional High School of Atlantic County and North Brunswick High School of Middlesex County finished 14th and 18^th, respectively. Taking home the big prize was Menlo School of Atherton, California. This year's AMTI was held May 17-19 in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The final round was presided over by Judge Travis L. Francis, Middlesex Vicinage.

In all, a record 26 mock trial teams participated, representing California, Florida, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Washington State, as well as Canada and South Korea. AMTI is cosponsored by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation and the North Carolina Advocates for Justice.

Several students from the Garden State were singled out for excellence and received awards at the competition. Best Attorney honors went to Jeremy Rapaport-Stein and Anderson Monken of Marshall Academy, Hannah Whitman of North Brunswick High School and Benjamin Gottlieb of Mainland Regional High School. Best Witness nods went to Nthabi Choma and Christopher Castillo of North Brunswick High School, Arden Walker and Rachel Johns of Marshal Academy and George Papademetriou of Mainland Regional High School.

Notable for its inclusivity, the competition was established in May of 2006 by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation and the North Carolina Advocates for Justice to allow high school mock trial champions with weekend religious obligations to compete in a national forum. Another exceptional feature of the AMTI is that it is the only nationwide mock trial competition that permits more than one team to represent each state. As many as three of a state's top six high school championship teams are eligible to participate. In addition, because the rounds take place on early weekdays, AMTI does not interfere with proms, Advanced Placement exams or Mother's Day.

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.

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