Area students shine at annual Mock Trials
On Saturday, Feb. 28, the Northwest Suburban Bar Association hosted the 13th annual NWSBA/Maine South High School Mock Trial Invitational at the Third Municipal District Courthouse in Rolling Meadows. Twenty-six teams from area high school's participated in the two-round event.
Timothy Christian High School from Elmhurst, re-established its recent dominance of the tournament and finished in first place. Wheaton Academy placed second and Glenbard East High School in Lombard, with a strong showing, placed third on tie breaker points over fourth place St. Charles East Orange team.
The NWSBA presented Don McArthur-Self, of Maine South High School, the inaugural Special Service Award for his 10 plus years of dedication to the tournament as a coach and director. McArthur-Self retired from active involvement with the tournament this year but was on hand to support the Maine South program and accept the award. McArthur-Self's teams at Maine South had a significant history of success, in particular from 1999-2005, when his teams were state finalist five out of six years.
Thirteen current and retired judges from the circuit court of Cook County volunteered time and expertise as they presided over the trials and provided feedback to the competitors. Judges included: the Honorable Joseph J. Urso, presiding judge of the Third District; Judge James F. Henry (retired), Chancery division; Associate Judge Samuel J. Betar III, Domestic Relations, Third Municipal District; Associate Judge Alfred Levinson, Third Municipal District; Judge Kay Hanlon, Third Municipal District; Judge Clare McWilliams, First Municipal District; Judge Pamela Loza, First Municipal District; Judge Thomas David Roti, Third Municipal District; Associate Judge John D. Tourtelot, Fourth Municipal District; Associate Judge Robert Senechalle Jr., Fourth Municipal District; Judge Joel Greenblatt, Third Municipal District; Judge Eileen O'Neill Burke, First Municipal District; and Associate Judge Consuelo E. Bedoya-Witt (retired), Second Municipal District.
Additionally, 40 attorney members of the NWSBA and attorneys from the Chicago area volunteered their time to this event.
NWSBA President Richard Miller, NWSBA Bar Foundation President Ronald Nelson and Judge Urso presented trophies to the winning teams. Each team in the competition also had at least one attorney coach who volunteered throughout the mock trial season.
Competition results were: Timothy Christian, 215; Wheaton Academy, 205; Glenbard East, 196; St. Charles East, Orange team, 196; Highland Park, 191; York Community, 190; Glenbard South, 189; St. Charles North, 188; Chicago Christian, 187; Evanston Township, 187; St. Charles East, Black team, 183; Mundelein, 180; Libertyville, 177; Willowbrook, 177; Hubbard, 176; Maine South, 171; Glenbrook South, 168; Maine West, 166; Glenbard North, 162; Carmel Catholic, 161; South Elgin, 154; Normal Community, 151; Homewood-Flossmoor, 151; Oak Park River Forest, 150; Maine East, 141; and Morgan Park, 139.
The Outstanding Witness Award went to Lena Brandis, Glenbard East High School; and the Outstanding Attorney Award was presented to Ashley Pivaronas from Wheaton Academy.