Weston Kids Win Their Case, and the Trophy

Weston's eighth-grade legal eagles spread their wings and  dominated the competition at the Mock Trial state championships held at the Appellate Court in Hartford on March 2. The middle-schoolers defeated Our Lady of Mercy School to take home the state trophy after only two years of participating in mock trials.

The judging panel included three sitting appellate court judges and two lawyers. Coached by Weston Middle School teacher Peggy Jorgensen, the team argued its way to the finals and never looked back. Team members Zoe Howard, Alex Ishin, Cole Mariyappa, Rebecca Marks, Rachel Roberts, Jack Seigenthaler, Henry Tracey and Micah Zirn completed four rounds of competition, winning all six of their trials on their way to the championship.

Winning did not come easy, although Weston's team made it appear that way. The competition 40 teams from 27 schools.

"The final trial was very exciting," parent and team volunteer Marcia Hamelin said in an email. "As a former lawyer, I'm quite sure that most law students (including myself) couldn't have performed this trial any better!"

The student attorneys conducted all of their examinations and made their opening and closing statements without notes, Hamelin added. "Our witnesses portrayed their characters convincingly and with a total grasp of the facts of the case," she said.

What types of programs would you like to see at the Weston Middle School? Tell us your thoughts here. 

 

 

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