Although the De La Salle Collegiate Mock Trial Team did not advance beyond the Macomb County Regional Tournament, held on March 2, 2024, at the Macomb County Courthouse, the team gained valuable experience.
The team included senior Jacob Hubbs; juniors Luke Jablonski, Ben Aloia, Nolan Kas-Mikha, John Kajy, Jack Madigan, Brendan Harper, JJ Simasko, and Thomas Simasko; and freshmen Ricky Agrusa, Evan Femminineo, and Anthony Adamo.
The faculty moderator is Mr. Brad Robinson.
The Pilot Bar Association assists with coaching, and coaches this year included four parents of the students involved: Andy Hubbs; Ben Aloia ‘91, who brought the idea of the Mock Trial team to DLS several years ago; David Femminineo ‘90; and Keith Jablonski ‘92.
Jacob Hubbs explained that the ‘trials” are scored by members of the Macomb County Bar Association, and teams advance to the state based on final scores.
The criteria include:
- Opening statement
- Direct examination
- Cross-examination
- Closing statement
- Overall presentation
The 2024 “case” was a civil suit involving an elderly man whose drone crashed into a valuable gnome garden. Read the case
DLS lost to the International Academy of Macomb but did beat teams from Port Huron and Romeo.
Luke Jablonski said, “I loved competing in this, and it honestly made me rethink my career path a little bit since I was not planning on becoming a lawyer. It feels like you’re actually in court.”
Starting in January 2024, the team practiced several times a week at De La Salle and also practiced at the courthouse in the courtroom of Macomb County’s Chief Judge James Biernat ‘87.
Keith Jablonski commented about the value of the experience.
“I say this without hyperbole,” Jablonski said. “To watch these kids transform into being in a courtroom and playing the roles of witnesses and attorneys and doing a really nice job is rewarding.”