Hilton High School’s Mock Trial Team heads to Buffalo after winning Monroe County championship
Hilton High School’s Mock Trial Team had tears in their eyes after competing in the final round of the Monroe County Mock Trial competition and taking their first local championship. In their 14-year history, the team has made it to the semi-finals four times, but had never cinched a championship title.
The team competed in the final round on March 25 against Brighton High School at Brighton Town Court. The mock trial was heard before Hon. Joanne M. Winslow, New York State Supreme Court Justice. Hilton’s win means that the team will be representing Monroe County in the state Regional Mock Trial Competition on April 18 at the Robert H. Jackson United States Courthouse in Buffalo.
“I’m so proud of their hard work and what they have accomplished,” said their coach, Mary Pignato. A Criminal Justice and Fundamentals of Law teacher at Hilton High School, Pignato has been coaching the team since its inception in the late 1990s.
In 2001, she invited Hon. Michael A. Sciortino, Parma Town Justice and Acting Rochester City Court Judge, to help coach. Also currently serving as coach is Bianca S. D’Angelo, Esq., Monroe County District Attorney and Hilton High School 2004 graduate. She is one of at least four Hilton Mock Trial participants who have gone on to careers in law, including Brian Jacek, an associate with Nixon Peabody; Craig Rapp, assistant attorney general; Cory Maggio, judge advocate general.
“It has been a sincere pleasure to observe these students compete at the high school level, and then to see them graduate from college and law school, and now see them as practicing attorneys in our county, state, and country,” said Justice Sciortino.
Members of the current Mock Trial team are: Nicole Bradbury, Sam D’Angelo (Bianca’s brother), Shannon McPhee, Josh Mooney, Alyssa Reese, Peter Shannon and Kate West.
Kate, a junior, joined the team as a freshman because her brother, Bobbie, was also on the team. “I’ve been a witness all three years and have really improved,” she said. “You get used to the types of questions.” Kate says the experience has helped her with her public speaking skills and has piqued her interest in law. “Seeing the professionals and talking with them, it makes me think that law could be a possible career.”
Hilton was undefeated in the semi-finals, advancing over McQuaid Jesuit, Mercy, Allendale Columbia and Churchville-Chili High Schools. A total of 13 schools participated with each team having six competing students – three acting as attorneys and three as witnesses. The teams are issued a case/fact pattern and are challenged to represent the respective parties at a bench trial before local judges and attorneys.
This year, the fact pattern involves a civil case of alleged conversion of funds raised by a not-for-profit corporation. The defendant, the treasurer for the not-for-profit, is alleged to have a gambling addiction. Hilton represented the plaintiff, but may be asked to switch to the defense in the regional competition.
“We have seen our students devote an incredible amount of time and energy learning how to be trial lawyers and witnesses including conducting research, drafting questions and answers, manipulating case-patterns, formulating arguments and objections, and rehearsing opening statements, direct and cross-examinations, re-direct and re-cross examinations, and closing arguments,” said Justice Sciortino.
“It really teaches you how to think on your feet,” said Senior Josh Mooney, the team’s lead attorney. A Mock Trial participant for four years, Josh plans to study biostatistics, not law, in college. He said that the confidence and public speaking skills he’s gained will help him no matter what career he pursues.
The Mock Trial Program is operated under the leadership of retired United States Magistrate Judge, Hon. William G. Bauer, of the law firm of Woods Oviatt Gilman, and sponsored through the New York Bar Association and Monroe County Bar Association.
Teams introduce evidence and are graded on laying a proper foundation in doing so. The students are not permitted to use anything outside the submitted materials so that each student is on the same playing field. At the conclusion of the bench trial, the judge makes two decisions – one on the merits of the case based upon substantive law and the other on the point calculation of each attorney and witness.
“It is very beneficial to perform a real court case while learning about law and speaking skills,” said Junior Alyssa Reese. “Also having the privilege to work with a great team, Ms. Pignato, and Judge Sciortino is an unforgettable experience in itself!”
