For the third consecutive year, NDCL's mock trial team will advance to regional competition after successfully arguing in district trials at the Lake County Courthouse on Jan. 26.
Legal Lions Advance
For the third consecutive year, NDCL’s mock trial team will advance to regional competition after successfully arguing in district trials at the Lake County Courthouse on Jan. 26.
When the gavels fell after a series of morning and afternoon trials, NDCL students also won six individual awards: senior Briana Cowman, best attorney and best witness; senior Jessica Iacco, best attorney; junior Carter Callender, best attorney; junior Hannah Taylor, best witness; and freshman Connor Marrott, best witness.
“After seeing you today, I am proud to have graduated from NDCL,” said Judge Marisa Cornachio ’96, Willoughby Municipal Court, at Friday’s mock trial district competition.
This year’s mock trial case focuses on the post-conviction relief petition of a man convicted nearly 20 years ago for murdering his ex-girlfriend and classmate. The defendant seeks to overturn his conviction because of his belief that his attorney’s ineffective legal assistance prejudiced his case and unfairly led to his conviction.
NDCL’s mock trial program has grown to include three teams this year: the Legal Lions, the Latin Lions and the Northstars — names that reflect the mascots of NDCL, Cathedral Latin School and Notre Dame Academy.
Team members owe much of their success to the expert advice provided by their dedicated and generous volunteer legal advisors, including Mr. Martin Delahunty, father of Jackie ’16 and John ’17; Mr. Ryan Callender, father of junior Carter; Geauga County Common Pleas Judge Carolyn Paschke, mother of sophomore Garrett; Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Michael Shaughnessy, father of Megan ’12 and Katie `18; and Geauga County Assistant Prosecuting Attorneys Donovan DeLuca ’05 and Nick Burling ’01.
The team’s network of professional support also includes Chardon Municipal Court Judge Terri Stupica, Geauga County Common Pleas Judge Forrest Burt, Geauga County Common Pleas Magistrate Bruce Smalheer and attorney Matt Lallo ’02, who officiated at scrimmages and provided valuable feedback.
English teacher Victoria Frabotta ’86 and social studies department chairperson Molly Schneider advise the team, which has already begun strategizing for the regional trials at Cuyahoga County’s Old Courthouse in downtown Cleveland on Feb. 16. Top teams from the regional competition advance to the state finals in March in Columbus.
Last year, NDCL finished as state runner-up and then went on to represent Ohio in the national competition after state champion Indian Hill High School withdrew.
