2023 Mock Trial Winners
Hudson Valley Homeschool Consortium 2023 Rensselaer County Mock Trial Champions with Supreme Court Justice Richard J. McNally, Jr.
This year Rensselaer County had five area high schools competing: Columbia High School, The Doane Stuart School, Emma Willard School, Hudson Valley Homeschool Consortium and Lansingburgh High School.
Co-Coordinators Jennifer C. Shatz, Esq. and Jessica B. Mocerine, Esq., wish to express their gratitude to those who served as judges: Supreme Court Justice Richard J. McNally, Jr., Troy City Court Judge Anne Coonradt, Nassau Village Judge Michael Conway, Arthur Frost, Esq., Jill Swingruber-Sprotbery, Esq., David Fronk, Esq., Michael Shanley, Esq., and Olivia Karis, Esq.
A special thanks to the Honorable Richard J. McNally, Jr., for judging our finals held on April 6, 2023, between the Hudson Valley Homeschool Consortium and Columbia High School. The Hudson Valley Homeschool Consortium was our County Champion and will move on to the Regionals to be held in Warren County.
Also thank you to Beth Muller, Chief Clerk of the Rensselaer County Courthouse and courthouse staff for all of their assistance during the tournament.
If any member is interested in serving as a legal advisor to one of the local high schools for next year’s tournament, please contact Jennifer Shatz, Esq., at jshatz@nycourts.gov
or Jessica Mocerine, Esq., at jmocerin@nycourts.gov
2023 NYS High School Mock Trial Tournament
The New York State Bar Association’s Law, Youth & Citizenship Program, and the New York Bar Foundation, in conjunction with the Rensselaer County Bar Association, are pleased to announce that New York’s Annual High School Mock Trial Tournament for senior high school students (grades 9-12) will be held in person. General coordination of the activities is being provided by the New York State Bar Association’s Law, Youth & Citizenship Program.
High school teams from public and nonpublic schools participate in the tournament, beginning at the county level. In tournament competition, the teams argue both sides of the case and assume the roles of attorneys and witnesses. Judges, usually local judges, or attorneys, score the teams based on a rating sheet that includes scoring on preparation, performance, and professionalism. The highest scoring team from County Tournaments proceeds to the Regional Competition to perform the Mock Trial against other county winners. The top team from each of New York State’s eight regions is then invited to attend and participate in the State Finals
The NYSBAR Mock Trial Subcommittee has selected a civil case for the competition this year.
SCHOOL ELIGIBILITY RESPONSIBILITIES
High schools in Rensselaer County wishing to participate may enter a single team of at least eight students, headed by one or more teacher-coaches. Other students can participate by serving as back-ups to members of the school’s first team. Junior high school students (grade 8 or below) will not be eligible for this year’s tournament. We recommend that a team have several additional students to act as substitutes when the need arises.
Selection of team members (three attorneys, three witnesses), two back-ups, and the coach/coaches are the responsibility of the school, as is transportation to and from the contest sites. The Tournament is open to all students currently in grades 9-12. If a school chooses to limit student participation for reasons of supervision or safety, this should be accomplished through an equitable try-out system, not through disallowing participation by one or more entire grades. Each team entered in the Mock Trial Competition is expected to conduct several practice sessions prior to the contest.
For additional information please download the Brochure.
If your school is interested in participating, please contact use for additional information.
Jessica Mocerine and Jennifer Shatz
Co-Coordinators
Rensselaer County Mock Trial Tournament
Jessica Mocerine, Esq.
E-Mail: Jmocerin@nycourts.gov
Jennifer Shatz, Esq.
E-Mail: Jshatz@nycourts.gov
Past Mock Trial Winners
2022
The Hudson Valley Consortium and The Emma Willard School students receiving their team trophies on Law Day at the Rensselaer County Courthouse.
2021
The Emma Willard School 2021 Rensselaer County Mock Trial Champions
Photo from the 2021 Final between The Emma Willard School and the Hudson Valley Homeschool held via Zoom
2020
The Doane Stuart School 2020 Rensselaer County Mock Trial Champions with Supreme Court Justice Richard J. McNally, Jr.
Rensselaer County Mock Trial was fortunate to complete the countywide tournament before the New York State Bar Association cancelled the Statewide 2020 Tournament Mock Trial Tournament due to the public health threat presented by COVID-19.
2019
The Doane Stuart School 2019 Rensselaer County Mock Trial Champions with Supreme Court Justice Richard J. McNally, Jr. along with co-coordinators Jessica Mocerine and Jennifer Shatz
2019 Mock Trial Winners
2018
Columbia High School 2018 Rensselaer County Mock Trial Champions with County Court Judge Jennifer Sober
2018 Mock Trial Winners
2017
The Emma Willard School 2017 Rensselaer County Mock Trial Champions with Supreme Court Justice Richard J. McNally, Jr.
2017 Mock Trial Winners
2016
The Doane Stuart School 2016 Rensselaer County Mock Trial Champions with County Court Judge Andrew Ceresia
2016 Mock Trial Winners
2015
The Doane Stuart School 2015 Rensselaer County Mock Trial Champions