Montoursville Wins Mock Trial Competition

On Monday, March 14, 2005, Federal District Court Judge Malcolm Muir presided at the championship round of the north central region, Pennsylvania Mock Trial competition.  Teams  advanced by Montoursville High School, Lycoming County and State College High School, competed for local honors, and for the opportunity of competing in the state finals in Harrisburg, and national finals in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The teams prepared and tried a civil case, involving the crushing death of a teen at a Rap concert.  State College, representing the family of the deceased teen, tried to prove that the rapper, by provocative  lyrics, induced the teen to rush the stage, becoming involved in a mob scene which resulted in his being trampled and killed.

Montoursville defended the rapper.  The rapper blamed the concert hall for lax security, which allowed the mob to rush the stage.  The team attempted to prove that the lyrics were an art form that is protected by the Constitution, and that the teen caused his own death by rushing the stage with the mob.

Fifteen local attorneys served as jurors.  On the merits of the case, the jury rendered a unanimous verdict for the rapper.   The decision on the competition was much closer.  As a result of the high quality of the performances and the closely matched teams, Montoursville eked out an 8 to 7 decision, and will advance to the next round of competition.