Bucks Writs - Spring 2019 - 8

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2019 Mock Trial Competition
By Erin K. Aronson

HE FLOWERS ARE BLOOMING, TEMPERATURES ARE RISING,
AND YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED A MASS EMAIL FROM ME
IMPLORING YOU TO VOLUNTEER IN SEVERAL WEEKS;

all are signs that the 2019 Mock Trial Competition is
successfully completed for another year.
Each year the Young Lawyers Division of the BCBA takes
the lead in organizing this county-wide competition,
which is part of the Pennsylvania Bar Association
statewide mock trial competition. As one of the largest
mock trial competitions in the nation, the PBA/YLD Mock
Trial Competition includes more than 300 high school
student teams from across the Commonwealth. Teams
advance through county, regional and statewide levels of
competition, with the statewide winner ultimately representing Pennsylvania nationally.

Bensalem High Sc
hool Mock Trial Tea
m

Locally, this year's competition featured 17 teams vying
for the number one spot and the chance to represent
Bucks County at regionals. Following the first round
of competition, in which each team competes twice,
just four undefeated teams remained and moved onto
the semi-finals. Ultimately, Central Bucks South High
School and Bensalem High School squared off in the
final round, with Central Bucks South High School
advancing to regionals.

Coordinating the competition is a herculean task and all
BCBA members should take pride in what we accomplish
together. In total, this year's competition featured 20 trials,
which required 20 Judges, 20 jury panels, and 20 bailiffs,
all in the span of just six weeks. As Coordinator of this
year's competition, it gave me immense pride in YLD, our
membership, and our local legal community, which you
should all share.

supported this endeavor and are to be thanked for their
patience and support.
The competition also would not take place without the
assistance and cooperation of the Office of Court Administration. Opening the courthouse doors at night to large
numbers of enthusiastic teenagers and their families for
20 trials in actual courtrooms is no small undertaking.
Under the leadership of our Court Administrator, Steve
Heckman, and with the assistance of Assistant Court
Administrator Sherri Wohrle, we were able to do just that,
even while juggling trial schedules and weather cancellations. We appreciate the efforts of Steve, Sherri, and
everyone in the Office of Court Administration.

Our esteemed judges from the Bucks County Court of
Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts presided
over each hearing. Students unfailingly report that the
chance to appear before actual judges is a highlight of
our competition. To be sure, this does not occur in every
county competition. We are fortunate to have the support
of our Judges, and for their willingness to volunteer their
time and expertise. Each Judge's administrative staff also

Bucks Writs - Spring 2019

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