H-ton Mock Trial Team Recruiting New Members

Huntington High School’s highly regarded mock trial team is searching for new members to fill out its roster as it seeks to rebuild and challenge county and state powers.

In the first decade of the program’s existence, the Blue Devil courtroom warriors have proved formidable, including winning multiple county championships and placing among the best in New York at the state finals.

A team of mixed experience is set to return to the courtroom this year. There are multiple spots for newcomers to fill and those faces will be embraced by the team’s veterans, faculty advisors and legal mentors.

Students interested in public speaking, law and criminal procedures are encouraged to considering joining the team. Huntington High School business education teachers Suzi Biagi and Bryan Outsen are the team’s faculty advisors.

Now in its eleventh year of existence, the Huntington courtroom team is a participant in an initiative sponsored by the New York State Bar Association Foundation. The program seeks to enhance participant’s public speaking skills and inspire some to consider a legal career.

Participating schools have a schedule of four regular season matches before the top 16 teams enter the Suffolk tournament. Teams across New York follow a similar path along the way to determining a state champion.

The New York State Bar Assn. Foundation believes the mock trial program “teaches students ethics, civility and professionalism; furthers students’ understanding of the law, court procedures and the legal system; improves proficiency in basic life skills, such as listening, speaking, reading and reasoning; promotes better communication and cooperation among the school community, teachers and students and members of the legal profession, and; heightens appreciation for academic studies and stimulate interest in law-related careers.”

Students learn about the rule of law; rules of evidence; proper courtroom decorum; legal terminology and civic responsibility and attitude. Participation fosters respect for the law and the legal system and an ability to view an issue from differing viewpoints.

The mock trial courtroom in the School Heritage Museum at the high school serves as the home base for the Blue Devils.

Then Huntington High School senior Justin LoTurco founded Huntington’s mock trial team during the 2014/15 school year. The team’s first victory came in February 2015 when it toppled Mattituck. The Blue Devils have enjoyed remarkable success since then, culminating in several county championships.

Interested in learning more about Huntington’s mock trial program or ready to sign-on as a team member? Send an email message to either Ms. Biagi (sbiagi@hufsd.edu) or Mr. Outsen (boutsen@hufsd.edu) to begin the process.