In a rare moment, U.S. Circuit Judge Thomas I. Vanaski openly praised attorneys arguing a case in his courtroom.
After jurors left Tuesday evening to deliberate the fate of a questionable Philadelphia developer in a complicated case that involved two people dead after a crane accident, Judge Vanaski of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals addressed the packed courtroom to praise student attorneys, witnesses and timekeepers.
"I think we can give them a hand," Judge Vanaski said. "There are only winners here today."
Most attorneys in Lackawanna County would envy the praise heaped on high school students from Abington Heights and Carbondale Area school districts. Mock trial teams from both schools competed in the final round of Region Five of District Three, which includes 14 area school teams.
For months, students have spent hours for multiple days each week practicing their roles in the case, from committing to memory facts of the case, reviewing legal arguments and enhancing public speaking skills.
A group of volunteer jurors returned a verdict in favor of the defendant, represented by Abington Heights.
Abington Heights senior Shomik Ghosh, selected as the lead advocate for his school team, said the experience has taught him many life skills, including how to prepare for the unexpected.
"I've learned not everything goes as planned and being scripted doesn't always help," said Shomik, adding he may consider a career in law.
With local mock trials sponsored by the Young Lawyers Division of the Lackawanna Bar Association, attorney Jennifer Menichini said the organization wants students to develop skills helpful for many professionals in the legal community.
"They get a feel for what it's like to participate in an actual trial," Ms. Menichini said.
As student mock trial teams throughout the state continue to compete, the Pennsylvania Bar Association Young Lawyers Division's statewide mock trial championships will take place in Harrisburg on March 22 and 23.
Contact the writer: rward@timesshamrock.com, @rwardTT on Twitter