Photograph by
Merrill Shea
Results of the 28th Annual Statewide High School Mock Trial Program
The Winsor School Wins MBA 2013 Mock Trial State Championship
The Winsor School of Boston was today named State Champion of
the Massachusetts Bar Association's 2013 Mock Trial Program. The
finals were held at Faneuil Hall in Boston. This is Winsor's second
championship, the first coming in 2010.
The high school now advances to the National High School Mock
Trial Championship in Indianapolis, Indiana to be held May 9-11. A
portion of the trip will be funded by a donation from the MBA's
philanthropic partner, the Massachusetts Bar Foundation.
Winsor School and Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter Public
School competed during a more than two-hour mock trial in Faneuil
Hall's Great Hall. Winsor defended Paula Breedy, who was charged
with the first degree murder of her great-aunt, Dana Liberson.
Pioneer Valley, as the prosecution, accused Breedy of killing
Liberson before her new will could strip Breedy of $4 million.
Breedy was alleged to have tampered with Liberson's heart
medications, causing an overdose.
Massachusetts Appeals Court Associate Justice Peter W. Agnes
Jr. presided over the mock trial and was assisted by Superior
Court Associate Justice John T. Lu and Superior Court Associate
Justice Kathe Tuttman.
"This was an inspiring performance," Agnes said of both teams,
whom he praised for their poise and ability to handle the
complicated evidence. "I don't think I've seen any law school mock
trial competition that was better than any performance I saw
today."
Agnes said Winsor was victorious in defending Breedy, who was
found not guilty. That win, however, did not mean Winsor would
automatically take the championship. The judges determined, by a
vote of two to one, that Winsor was the victor because it received
the higher score. The judges based their calculations on a number
of factors including presentation and knowledge of both the case
and law.
The MBA Mock Trial Program began its 28th year in January. The
competition places high school teams from 16 regions across the
state in simulated courtroom situations where they assume the roles
of lawyers, defendants and witnesses in hypothetical cases. More
than 130 teams competed in this year's competition.
MBA President Robert L. Holloway Jr. welcomed the students to
the historic venue, and thanked their families and coaches of both
teams for their support.
"We at the MBA hope you have found this competition a rewarding
opportunity so far-something that has brought about a greater
appreciation of yourselves, your teammates, the law, court
proceedings and the American judicial system," Holloway said. "I'm
confident that this experience will serve you well as you plan your
futures in college and as adult citizens in our great
democracy."
The Mock Trial Program is administered by the MBA, and made
possible by the international law firm of Brown Rudnick through its
Center for the Public Interest in Boston, which has contributed
$25,000 each year to the program since 1998.
For more information on the MBA Mock Trial Program, visit http://mocktrial.massbar.org/.