Nearly 200 students from 11 area schools participated in the Catholic Middle School Mock Trial Program, co-hosted by St. John’s Law and St. Brigid/Our Lady of Hope Regional School this past weekend. The event, now in its 21st year, offered students a chance to engage in mock trials as both prosecution and defense teams.

The case involved a high school student charged with manslaughter following a rollover car crash, derived from the New York State High School Mock Trial Program. Participants prepared for weeks with guidance from teachers and volunteer lawyer/coaches before presenting their arguments at St. John's.

Judges for the event were members of the Frank S. Polestino Trial Advocacy Institute from St. John’s Law School. Professor Michael A. Simons, who has overseen the program since 2006, expressed his satisfaction: “It’s wonderful to watch these young students learn about our legal system, exercise analytical and reasoning skills, practice public speaking, and build self-confidence.”

Lori Kanina ’25 served as one of the judges and praised the participants' efforts: “It was amazing to see the hard work these students put into their cases,” she remarked.

Paul Clagnaz, Principal of St. Brigid/Our Lady of Hope Regional School, commended the students for their dedication: “I commend the students for their willingness to take on new challenges... I expect to see future attorneys and judges coming out of this outstanding group of young people.”

The program received sponsorship from Duffy & Duffy, a Long Island law firm led by Michael Duffy ‘94.