Viking Mock Trial Team makes waves in the courtroom

Grand Island Dispatch, March 14, 2008

The New York State Bar Association creates a fictional trial each year. They send the packet to high schools all around the state in early December and, after months of practice, six high school students compete in a real courtroom against another school in battle of legal wits.

Each team has three witnesses and three lawyers. The case is about a high school student who hit a jogger after coming home from senior night activities. The Grand Island team is advised by Mike Murray with volunteer legal advice from Michael Anthony Rossi.

Of 38 schools in Erie County entered in the local tournament in February, the Grand Island team earned one win and one loss to qualify for 32-team playoff round.

On March 1, the Vikings defeated Tonawanda High School and have advanced to the second round of the playoffs. The law team is one of 16 high schools still fighting for the county legal championship. Lawyers Lauren Emmi, Michelle Rossi and Sam Kilb represent Grand Island. Viking witnesses Kelsey Borgeson, Nikki Styliades and Kyle Schutrum outwitted Tonawanda and helped their client to win $100 million dollars. The team will compete again this Saturday against Williamsville East at the Buffalo City Court House.