Present Your Case! Mock Trial Prepares for Season

The Central Catholic Mock Trial Team has begun preparing for their 2025-2026 Season. Four team members attended a Mock Trial Seminar at Havard University this past weekend, and the team launched their inaugural Mock Trial Speaker Series with Judge Raquel Ruano on October 27.

Last year's Mock Trial Team had an undefeated regular season and advanced to the playoffs.

Mock Trial

• Mock Trial Practices Law at Harvard University
• The Mock Trial Speaker Series
• Mock Trial at Central Catholic
• Student Life at Central Catholic

 

Mock Trial Practices Law at Harvard University

Four members of the Central Catholic Mock Trial Team attended a Mock Trial Seminar at Harvard University held the first weekend of November entitled the Angela R. Mathew High School Seminar.

• Nadia Lee '27
• Kaleigh Davoli '27
• Geremia Ortega '26
• Camille Melendez '28

Students were accompanied by faculty advisor and coach Mr. Brian Flaherty, Social Studies Teacher.

The students attended six lectures relating to the main elements of a mock trial competition:

• opening statements,
• closing statements,
• direct examination,
• cross examination,
• witnesses, and
• evidence and objections.

They also attended four breakout sessions with a Harvard undergraduate who helped them analyze a fictitious case.

The seminar was sponsored by the Harvard Undergraduate Mock Trial Team and was attended by students from all over the United States.

 

The Mock Trial Speaker Series

Mock Trial is sponsoring a speaker series where students will be introduced to Central Catholic parents who work in the judicial system.

The series launched on Monday, October 27, with Judge Raquel Ruano, P'26 & P'28.

Featured Speakers

• October 27: Judge Raquel Ruano P'26 '28
• November 17: Attorney Yolla (Haddad '98^PMA) Sabounji P'27
• February 9: State Rep. Adrianne Ramos P'28
• March 9: Assistant District Attorney Maureen Wilson ('94^PMA) Leal P'26 '28

 

Thank you to our first speaker, Judge Ruano!

About Judge Ruano P'26 & P'28

Associate Justice, Massachusetts Trial Court

Judge Ruano was born in Guatemala and emigrated to the United States when she was four. She completed her undergraduate work at the College of the Holy Cross and received her law degree from Boston College Law School.

Since graduating from law school, Judge Ruano has had a varied and distinguished career. She has worked as a law clerk, a prosecutor for the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, a defense attorney, and as the city attorney for the city of Lawrence.

Governor Charlie Baker nominated her to serve as Associate Justice of the District Court on April 6, 2022, and her nomination was confirmed on April 27, 2022.

 

About Mock Trial

Central Catholic competes in the Mock Trial Program sponsored by the Massachusetts Bar Association.

The goal of the program is to help students develop their critical thinking skills, understand the judicial process, and to present themselves in public in a competent manner. It is much like a structured debate team. Mock Trial prep work starts in October with three competitions taking place in late January or early February. Playoffs take place in late February or early March.

Mock Trial is moderated and coached by Mr. Brian Flaherty, Social Studies Teacher, and Atty. Yolla (Haddad '98^PMA) Sabounji P'27, Frawley & Sabounji Law Group

About the Massachusetts Mock Trial Program

Since 1985, the Massachusetts Bar Association has hosted the annual, statewide Mock Trial Program to help high school students learn more about the law, court procedures, and our legal system, giving the students the opportunity to sharpen their analytical, listening and speaking skills.

Students prepare a hypothetical case and then test their skills as lawyers and witnesses in a simulated courtroom competition.

Members of the Massachusetts Bar Association serve as attorney coaches and judges for the Mock Trial Program, while thousands of high school students across Massachusetts participate.

Upcoming Program: You Be the Judge

Next week, a group of 13 Mock Trial students will be traveling with Mr. Flaherty to the Federal Courthouse in Concord, NH to participate in a program called "You Be the Judge."

They will hear about an actual case, do a mock trial, and decide how they would rule. They will then witness the sentencing hearing of a convicted criminal and discuss it all with the judge.

Thank you to Judge Landya Boyer McCafferty, a member of the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire. Judge McCaffery is the wife of Mr. Patrick McCafferty, CCHS Religious Studies Faculty Member.

 

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Student Life at Central Catholic

Our students are passionate and involved.

Central Catholic's many clubs, activities, and teams provide students with the chance to develop a life-long interest while forging life-long friendships.

Students forge bonds with classmates and teachers while enriching their lives and pursuing their interests beyond the classroom.

Mock Trial is one of the over 50 clubs and activities available to students.

Explore our Online Activities Guide to find the best fit for your personality, talents, and interests.

Online Student Activities Guide

Resources for Student Activities

The Online Student Activities Guide

This Week in Raider Nation

The Raider Rundown

The Student Activities Calendar