Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

2010 YMCA Mock Trial Champion: Seattle Prep

OLYMPIA—MARCH 28, 2010— Seattle Prep took top honors this Sunday as the 2010 Champion of the statewide YMCA Mock Trial Competition. The team is now eligible to compete for the national title in Philadelphia, PA.

 Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Barbara Madsen keynoted a breakfast awards ceremony and presided over the championship trial in Olympia with Seattle Prep and Franklin High School of King County competing for the statewide title. 

Top ten finalists of the competition are as follows: 

The Best Attorney Awards went to Martin Ho of Mercer Island High School and Emma Spurlock of Camas High School, and the Best Witness Award went to Jenny Singer of University Prep.  For the Championship round, the Best Attorney Award went to Tierney Vial of Seattle Prep and the Best Witness Award went to Tarae Grant of Franklin High School.

A total of 20 high school teams from across the state competed for the title in a three-day, four-round competition this weekend at the Thurston County Courthouse, arguing the prosecution and defense sides of a complex arson cases involving a band of eco-terrorists.

The YMCA Mock Trial Competition began in 1987 and is part of the YMCA’s Youth & Government program, which for more than 60 years has helped students experience democracy in action. Mock Trial allows students to participate in true-to-life courtroom drama before real judges in real courtrooms, gaining an understanding of the law and the role of the judiciary.