NYU mock trial team advises high school competitors

While many students spent their summer vacation relaxing or working summer jobs, mock trial competitors in the Empire City Invitational spent theirs studying a 100-page case problem, scripting examinations and working on arguments.

From Oct. 16 to 18, the NYU Mock Trial team helped advise competing teams in the third annual invitational, held at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York in downtown Brooklyn.

The Empire City Invitational aims to provide high school students with an extensive education in trial advocacy, as well as an opportunity to build confidence and enhance communication skills.

The competition was presented by the THS Mock Trial Association Inc., a Staten Island-based, non-profit organization founded in 2007 by CAS alumnus Justin Matarrese and his father, Gregory Matarrese.

Justin was the tournament director for the invitational.

"From the beginning the Empire has established itself as a tournament that gives the world's brightest young minds the chance to further their study of legal education and trial advocacy, while offering a unique opportunity to visit New York City," said Justin, who graduated in 2008. "We stress values like friendship, respect and civility over sheer competitiveness."

For the 2009 invitational, Justin found support from his former teammates at NYU Mock Trial, including Gallatin senior David John Hommel, who served as assistant tournament director.

He also garnered the support of legal scholar and NYU President John Sexton, who delivered the keynote address.

Matarrese has brought the Empire Invitational to international prominence. This year's field consisted of 18 teams, hailing from 11 states and four countries.

"The Empire has blossomed into a true international spectacle, fielding the best and brightest throughout the world," Hommel said. "This year's final round saw Ireland square off against New Jersey, and the caliber of those students just blew me away."

After an intense round, Our Lady's College of Ireland defeated New Jersey's Mainland Regional High School, becoming the first international team to be crowned Empire City Champions.

"It was such an honor to win the competition, especially being the first international team to do so," said Emily Walker, captain of the Our Lady's College team. "The Empire is truly a place where dreams are made — certainly the ones of Irish girls, anyway!"

U.S. Federal Judge Raymond J. Dearie presided over the hard-fought final, which 13 attorneys judged.

Stern senior Michael Griffin, a member of the NYU Mock Trial, is excited for the tournament to continue in the future.

"I can only imagine what next year's Empire will hold."