Washington Courts: Press Release Detail

2004 Mock Trial Champion: Seattle Prep

2004 Mock Trial Champion:  Seattle Prep

OLYMPIA—Seattle Prep High School took top honors this Sunday, March 28 as the 2004 champion of the statewide YMCA Youth and Government Mock Trial Program Competition.  The team is now eligible to compete for the national title in May.

Twenty high school teams from across the state competed for the title in a three-day, five-round competition this weekend, arguing the plaintiff and defense sides of Internet Freedom Forum, et. al v. Sam Houston.  Written by King County Deputy Prosecutor Mike Lang, this year’s hypothetical case explored a fictional lawsuit in which three groups say their privacy rights have been violated by a local sheriff, who is using the Patriot Act to surreptitiously gather information. The lawsuit alleges the Patriot Act unconstitutionally allows the violation of their First Amendment rights.  Student ‘attorneys’ and witnesses argued both sides of the lawsuit, earning points from volunteer raters.

Retired Washington Supreme Court Justice Robert F. Utter presided over the championship trial, and more than 30 judges statewide volunteered their time in the three-day event.

Top ten finalists of the competition are as follows:

The competition is part of the YMCA’s Youth and Government program.  Co-sponsors include the Administrative Office of the Courts and the Young Lawyer Division of the Washington State Bar Association.

PROGRAM CONTACTS: Judge William Downing, King County Superior Court 206-296-9362 or Kelley Flynn, YMCA Mock Trial coordinator, 360-534-0155.

# # # # #

Judicial Officers Participating in the 2004 Mock Trial Competition

• Amber Finlay, Shelton Municipal Court
• Catherine Shaffer, King County Superior Court
• Christine Pomeroy, Thurston County Superior Court
• Brett Buckley, Thurston County Superior Court
• Craig J. Matheson, Benton/Franklin County Superior Court
• David Ladenburg, Tacoma Municipal Court
• Doug Goelz, South Pacific District Court
• Doug Haake, Pro Tem Judge, Administrative Office of the Courts
• Edwin Poyfair, Clark County Superior Court
• Ellen Fair, Snohomish County Superior Court
• Evan Sperline, Grant County Superior Court
• George Bowden, Snohomish County Superior Court
• James Lust, Yakima County Superior Court
• Jerome Leveque, Spokane County Superior Court
• Jim Roewe, Lewis County District and Superior Courts
• John Hotchkiss, Douglas County Superior Court
• Judge Christine Pomeroy, Thurston County Superior Court
• Linda Krese, Snohomish County Superior Court          
• Mark Huth, Jefferson County Superior Court
• Michael L. Everett, Wapato Municipal Court
• R.W. Buzzard, Centralia Municipal Court
• Rick Neidhardt, Administrative Office of the Courts
• Robert Harris, Clark County Superior Court
• Ronald Kessler, King County Superior Court
• Sergio Armijo, Pierce County Superior Court
• Steve Buzzard, Chehalis, Winlock, Municipal Courts
• Susan Dubuisson, Thurston County District Court
• William Downing, King County Superior Court