Attorney Kevin Chrisanthopoulos was selected to participate as a judge in the 2015 Massachusetts Bar Association Mock Trial program. This will be his fourth year participating as a Judge. The Mock Trial Program has been an integral part of the Massachusetts Bar Association’s long tradition of education and public service, providing high school students with a positive first experience with the law, as well as a valuable and dynamic educational experience.
The tournament begins in late January and continues into March with a “sweet sixteen” round, culminating in the State Finals, to be held on March 27, 2015. Participating teams are invited to attend the State Finals to observe the tournament’s competition at its highest level. The state champion team will compete for the national title in Raleigh, North Carolina in May of 2015.
The Mock Trial program has been structured with the following goals in mind:
- To further understanding of the law, court procedures, civil liberties and our legal system;
- To increase proficiency in skills, such as public speaking and legal reasoning;
- To develop advocacy skills regardless of which side of the case is being represented;
- To promote better communication and cooperation between the participating high schools and the legal profession; and
- To heighten consciousness of law-related professions and the academic studies which lead to those professions.
This year “Judge” Chrisanthopoulos presided over a Murder trial, while the defense argued it was a justified shooting. In this mock trial, Southwick High School faced-off against The Springfield Renaissance School. Though in this event Southwick High School prevailed, both schools demonstrated a remarkable understanding of the trial process and it was evident that both schools dedicated a tremendous amount of time and effort in preparation for their day in court.
Attorney Chrisanthopoulos is a resident of Westfield, Massachusetts. He graduated with a B.A. from Western New England College and J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law. He concentrates his practice in civil litigation including: personal injury, insurance coverage, federal litigation, amusement park and leisure industry litigation and consumer protection litigation.