Matt Johnston–A Judge?

Matt Johnston–A Judge?

Well, maybe not a REAL judge. But I played one yesterday and it was fun.

The Maryland State Bar Association’s Citizenship Law Related Education Program administers a High School Mock Trial Competition each year.  This is the second time I have served as a judge in this competition for the local Frederick County High Schools.

I had the pleasure  of judging the competition between the team from Governor Thomas Johnson High School of Frederick city and Brunswick High School from Brunswick Maryland.  The 12 young men and women acted as advocates and witnesses did well in their first of six competitions in this round.  The students, their teacher coaches and volunteer attorney coaches did themselves and their schools proud.

This year in Frederick County all ten traditional public high schools in the county, the Career & Tech Center of the public schools, and one private school are fielding (courtrooming?) a team. Good luck to:

Brunswick High School
Career & Tech Center
Catoctin High School
Frederick High School
Governor Thomas Johnson
Linganore High School
Middletown High School
Oakdale High School
St. John’s Catholic Prep
Tuscarora High School
Urbana High School
Walkersville High School

It is a sad state of affairs when competitions like this are not covered in the press, even the local press.  This competition means as much to these students as does any sport, band or choral competition and should received the same kind of coverage.

 

Follow CLREP on Facebook here:  https://www.facebook.com/CLREP?fref=ts

Follow the Maryland Mock Trial Program on Facebook here:  https://www.facebook.com/MDMockTrial?fref=ts