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After two hours of intense competition, the St. Mary’s Ryken High School Mock Trial Team emerged victorious in a close, but unanimous, decision to become 7th Circuit champions. The team faced DeMatha High School at the Upper Marlboro Courthouse on March 22 in the statewide, mock trial competition sponsored by the Citizenship Law-Related Education Program (CLREP) in cooperation with the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) and the Maryland Judicial Conference.

Senior John Houser was recognized for the second consecutive year as the best overall attorney in the regional competition.Junior Ryan Kelley was recognized as the best defense attorney.

Mock trials are held in actual courtrooms with a real, volunteer judge presiding.Students take on the roles of attorneys, plaintiffs, defendants and witnesses.This year’s case explored issues of teen driving, underage alcohol use and negligence. Under the tutelage of their coaches - faculty member Leanne Carr and attorney Samuel Baldwin - the SMR team prepared both a prosecution and a defense of the case.

On April 5, the team travels to Ellicott City for the “Elite 8” round; if they are successful there, they head to Annapolis for the “Final Four” round. Approximately 200 high schools compete statewide in eight circuits, and there are 32 schools in the 7th Circuit representing Prince George’s, Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties.

St. Mary's Ryken is a private, coeducational, Catholic secondary school sponsored by the Xaverian Brothers.Students come from many different counties across the region including Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, King George, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s counties. SMR offers a rigorous and challenging college preparatory curriculum. Although the majority of students are Catholic, a variety of religions are represented and all denominations are welcome.