Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

2019 Washington State Mock Trial Champion: Franklin High School from King County

OLYMPIA — In a close competition, Franklin High School of King County edged out Seattle Prep on Sunday to become the 2019 Champion of the Washington State YMCA Mock Trial Competition. Franklin High School is now eligible to compete for the national title May 16-18 in Athens, Georgia.

In 2018, Franklin High School won the national championship after taking the state title.

Washington Supreme Court Justice Mary I. Yu presided over the championship trial in Olympia with Seattle Prep and Franklin high schools, both of King County, competing for the statewide title.

The top 12 finalists of the competition are as follows:

The William Downing Values Award was presented to The River Academy of Chelan County for exhibiting values of sportsmanship and professionalism promoted through the YMCA Mock Trial mission. The Best Attorney award for the weekend tournament was a three-way tie between Paden Nichols of the Seattle Prep white team, Heera Rajavel of the of Skyline High School silver team, and Jade McCarrell of The River Academy. The Best Witness award for the weekend tournament was awarded to Dario Guerra of Seattle Academy.  

For the championship round on Sunday, the Best Attorney Award went to Cora Patz of Franklin High School, and the Best Witness Award went to Michelle Nguyen of Seattle Prep.  

The competition began Friday, March 22 with 24 teams from around the state — winners of their district competitions — competing in four rounds throughout this weekend at the Thurston County Courthouse, arguing the plaintiff and defense sides of a fictitious civil trial in which a homeowner opens a small ranch in his neighborhood in spite of neighborhood codes against such an action.

The YMCA Mock Trial program began in 1987 and is part of the YMCA’s Youth & Government program which helps 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.

PROGRAM CONTACTS: Franklin High School coach Don Eaton, (206) 718-1256; Judge Robert Lewis, Mock Trial Program Chair at 360-397-2226; Brent Gaither, YMCA Youth and Government Executive Director, (360) 357-3475.