The Justice League of the Yorktown High School won the first round of the 2013 New York Statewide High School Mock Trial Tournament in Westchester County.
The competition is sponsored by the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) and its purpose is to teach students about trial basics and to learn about professionalism and civility in the court room.
The first round took place on Feb. 28 at the Supreme Court of the County of Westchester in Whites Plains.
The Justice League's Defense team won the competition against the Westchester Hebrew High School in the civil case of Morgan Martin versus Cattaragus Programming University. The Defense Team consisted of three attorneys and three witnesses.
The Justice League is composed of freshmen, sophomore, and junior students from the high school, who are divided into two teams – plaintiff and defendant. Under the supervision of Yorktown High School teacher advisor Steve Rome, Attorney Advisors; Linda Gironda, Robert Gironda and Donna Cook, along with parental participation and support, the team has spent hours to prepare for the statewide mock trial.
Due to the generosity of the Yorktown Bar Association, local attorneys and parents, adequate funding was obtained for this year's competition.
Kings County Supreme Court Judge Carl Landicino and Yorktown Town Justices Salvatore Lagonia and Gary Raniolo served as Mock Trial Judges during the Justice League's dress rehearsals.
The Justice League's Plaintiff team will compete in Round Two of the NYSBA competition on March 7.
