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Mock Trial Culminating Events

  • Mock Trial Culminating Events
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After-School

Mock Trial Culminating Events

December 8-December 15 | Boston, Brockton, Brookline, Framingham, Holyoke, Lowell, Pittsfield, Providence, Springfield, Uxbridge, and Worcester

The Mock Trial is as close as students can get to being a trial lawyer without passing the bar exam.

After ten weeks of working closely with volunteer legal mentors, middle school student attorneys will present their arguments before a federal or state judge and a jury of community members. Volunteer jurors help create a meaningful final event for participants in Discovering Justice’s Mock Trial Program. Jurors support our students’ and volunteers’ semester-long efforts by filling the jury box, listening to arguments, determining the case with the guidance of a real judge, and providing feedback. A legal background is not required to be a juror. You can register below. 

Become a Volunteer Juror

This December, Discovering Justice is hosting 11 Mock Trial events in courthouses across Massachusetts and Rhode Island. This year’s Fourth Amendment case, Ross v. Clearmont High, is informed by the New Jersey v. T.L.O. precedent. Student attorneys will face off against their peers in plaintiff and defendant teams. Volunteer jurors will listen to students’ arguments to determine whether a school violated a student’s Fourth Amendment rights. 

Mock Trial Culminating Event Details by Municipality

 
Boston: Tuesday, December 13th, 5-7 pm | John Joseph Moakley U.S Courthouse
  • Boston Latin Academy/United States Attorney’s Office
  • Boston Latin School/ City of Boston Legal Department
  • Brooke Charter School East Boston/Dell and DJ Volunteers
  • Florida Ruffin Ridley School/Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office
  • Match Middle School/ Mintz
  • Rafael Hernández Dual Language K-8 School/WilmerHale
  • Mildred Avenue K-8 School/General Electric-Jones Day
  • Saint John’s Parochial School/Goodwin Procter LLP-Boston University School of Law
  • UP Academy Boston/Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Brockton: Thursday, December 15th, 5-7 pm | Brockton District Court
  • West Middle School/Committee for Public Counsel Services – Brockton
  • East Middle School/Committee for Public Counsel Services Children and Family Law Division – Brockton
Brookline: Tuesday, December 8th, 3-5 pm | Brookline District Court
  • John D. Runkle Elementary School/Brookline Town Counsel and Law Office of Susan K. Howards
  • ***Florida Ruffin Ridley and Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office will be in the Moakley, see Boston event above
Douglas: Wednesday, December 14th, 3:30-5:00 pm | Uxbridge District Court
  • Douglas Middle School/Uxbridge District Court
Framingham: Thursday, December 8th, 3-4:30 pm | Framingham District Court
  • Cameron Middle School/Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and AB Sciex
Lowell: Thursday, December 15th, 5-7 pm | Lowell Justice Center
  • James S Daley Middle School/Committee for Public Counsel Services – Lowell
  • Stoklosa Middle School/Freitas & Freitas, LLP
  • James Sullivan Middle School/O’Donnell Law Firm, Lowell Public Schools, Law Office of Todd D. Beauregard PC, Law Office of Ryan P. Sullivan
  • Henry J Robinson Middle School/Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office
Medford: Tuesday, December 13th, 5-7 pm | John Joseph Moakley U.S Courthouse
  • St. Raphael Parish School/Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Liberty Mutual, Gelerman & Cabral, Krems, Jackowitz & Carman, Grant Law Office, Special Counsel Malden, Foley Hoag, Peabody Arnold, Beagan Law Office
Pittsfield: Friday, December 9th, 3-4:30 pm | Pittsfield District Court
  • John T. Reid Middle School/Committee for Public Counsel Services – Pittsfield, Cain Hibbard & Myers PC, Maduro Law
Providence: Thursday, December 15th, 5:30-7:30 pm | Providence Federal Courthouse
  • Nathan Bishop Middle School/United States Attorney’s Office – District of Rhode Island
South Hadley: Wednesday, December 14th, 3:30-5 pm | Holyoke District Court
  • Pioneer Valley Performing Arts/Bulkley Richardson
Springfield: Wednesday, December 14th, 4-6 pm | Springfield Federal Courthouse
  • John J Duggan Academy/MassMutual
  • The Springfield Renaissance School/Committee for Public Counsel Services Youth Advocacy Division – Springfield
  • Springfield Conservatory of the Arts/Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office
  • STEM Middle Academy/Connor & Morneau, LLP and Hampden County Sheriff’s Department
Waltham: Tuesday, December 13th, 5-7 pm | John Joseph Moakley U.S Courthouse
  • McDevitt Middle School/Morse and Gary Gordon
Worcester: Monday, December 12th, 5-7 pm | Donohue Federal Building and U.S Courthouse
  • Forest Grove Middle School/Committee for Public Counsel Services – Worcester
  • Dr. Arthur F. Sullivan Middle School/Amabile & Burkly, P.C., Central West Justice Center, Law Office of Tom Vukmirovits, and Committee for Public Counsel Services – Worcester
Alexandra

Alexandra vonBallmoos

Alex has over fifteen years of administrative experience, most recently at Boston Schools Fund. Prior to her time at BSF, she served as an Executive Assistant to the Head of School at Mother Caroline Academy, where she also provided major support to the Development office. Before her time at MCA, Alex served as an assistant at a media firm in Washington, DC.

This role oversees financial operations such as reconciliations, expense tracking, payroll, and donor acknowledgments, while managing organizational systems, employee records, and meeting coordination. It also provides event logistics, Board support, and office management, ensuring efficient processes, accurate recordkeeping, and the successful execution of programs, operations, and special events like the annual Spring Gala.

Rana Suh Kannan

Rana Suh Kannan

Rana Suh Kannan has spent nearly her entire 20+ year career dedicated to providing students with access to high-quality education experiences that lead to strong academic outcomes. She brings extensive and diverse experiences as a teacher, school administrator, funder, and nonprofit professional. Rana is committed to Discovering Justice’s mission to enable students to become well-equipped with the knowledge, skills, and desire to build and sustain an equitable democracy.

Prior to Discovering Justice, Rana spent seven years at Boston Schools Fund, most recently as the Chief Operating Officer. She co-led the development of the organization’s second fund, and ensured its operationalization across the organization. Previously, Rana played pivotal roles at organizations such as Salsify, Phoenix Charter Academy, The Achievement Network, and Roxbury Prep Charter School. Rana graduated from Williams College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Psychology. She earned her Master’s in Education Policy & Management from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Mehana Koch

Mehana Koch is a recent graduate of Wellesley College, where she earned a BA in Psychology. She joined Discovering Justice excited to learn about nonprofit operations and support an organization whose mission uplifts and empowers future engaged citizens.

At Discovering Justice, Mehana enjoys supporting both the administrative and fundraising needs of the organization. Her day-to-day work includes processing donations, reconciling accounting information, and maintaining a strong database. She also has played a large role in onboarding new staff and supporting large organization-wide events, such as the Annual Gala.

Bianca Lora

Bianca Lora is passionate about expanding access to civic education, uplifting historically underrepresented voices, and creating spaces where young people can grow as informed and active members of their communities. With a background spanning across organizing, policy, and fundraising, she brings a collaborative spirit to the work.

Prior to this role, she led cross-departmental initiatives for donors at the ACLU of Massachusetts, including its 800-person annual gala. Bianca has also served as a Senior Legislative Assistant for a Councilmember At-Large in Montgomery County, Maryland where she oversaw a legislative portfolio on government operations, economic development, public safety and social justice issues. She also launched an organizing campaign alongside the adjunct faculty at Prince George’s Community College with SEIU.