Monroe-Woodbury advances in Orange County Mock Trial

Monroe —The eight teams who survived the first rounds of last Saturday’s Orange County Mock Trial tournament will advance to the single eliminations this Saturday, March 25, at the Orange County Courthouse in Goshen. The teams competing in the single eliminations include John S. Burke Catholic High School, Goshen High School, Highland Falls (James I. O’Neill High School), Marlboro High School, Monroe-Woodbury High School, Pine Bush High School, Port Jervis High School, and Warwick Valley High School. Goshen, Highland Falls, Marlboro, and Pine Bush will play the role of the prosecution, and John S. Burke, Monroe-Woodbury, Port Jervis, and Warwick will play the defense in the morning trials. The four teams with the best scores after the morning rounds will compete in the semi-finals in the afternoon. The countywide tournament is the first stage in the state tournament, sponsored by the New York State Bar Association. The program is coordinated in Orange County by Family Court Judge Carol S. Klein, representing the bar association, and Maryanne Monte and Evelyn Schneider of Orange-Ulster BOCES. The Orange County Bar Association provides judges to hear the cases presented by the students as well as attorney-coaches for the teams. The students perform both the roles of the prosecution and defendant by studying affidavits and court procedures under the guidance of their attorney-coach and an advisor from their high schools. The county finals are scheduled for Tuesday, April 4, from 4 to 6 p.m. For more information about the tournament, call Maryanne Monte, coordinator, at 781-4332. Single eliminations will be held from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. Prosecution: A Marlboro, B Pine Bush, C Goshen, D Highland Falls. Defendant: A Monroe-Woodbury, B Burke, C Port Jervis, D Warwick. The semi-finals are from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.