HAMPDEN, Maine — The Maine State High School Mock Trial Championship team from Hampden Academy, with a record of two wins and two losses, finished 20th out of 42 teams at the 26th annual National High School Mock Trial Championship May 7-10 in the Fulton County Courthouse in Atlanta.
Hampden’s team lost to Minnesota in the first round, defeated Alabama in the second, lost to New Mexico in the third and defeated Florida in the fourth round.
The overall competition was won by John Adams High School from Indiana, which bested Lakeville North High School from Minnesota in the championship round.
This year’s case was based on the fictional shooting of an artist at a fictional Georgia art museum by the museum’s curator. The State of Georgia alleged that the victim was murdered the day before he was about to reveal the curator’s participation in an insurance fraud scheme. The defendant admitted the shooting, but claimed self-defense.
Students portrayed both attorneys and witnesses and conducted opening statements, closing arguments, direct and cross examinations and made evidentiary objections.
Ryan Asalone and Emily Tarbell from Hampden Academy were recognized for their outstanding performances as attorneys.
Emily Tarbell and Jason Hamilton were both recognized for outstanding performances as witnesses.
This comes after the Hampden Academy team won the Maine State High School Mock Trial Championship after a two-trial competition against Lewiston High School on Dec. 9 in the Supreme Judicial Courtroom at Cumberland County Courthouse in Portland.
The team won six consecutive Maine State High School Mock Trial Championship and has won eight in the past nine years.
Hampden Academy team members participating in the National Championship were Jason Hamilton, Savannah Sargent, Emily Tarbell, Jack Swalec, Ryan Asalone, Jennifer Dixon, Elena Cravens, Sarah Coston and James Sargent. Teacher Kathryn King is the team’s coach.
Attorney coaches are Bill Devoe of the law firm of Eaton Peabody in Bangor and Jim McCarthy, an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Bangor.
The Maine high school mock trial program began in 1992 and is sponsored by the Maine Bar Association.