The Mock Trial teams from Sherburne-Earlville and Oxford schools will be competing in the final round on Friday, April 11. The winning team will move on to the regional competition against other schools in the Central New York area. (Photo by Sarah Genter)

CHENANGO COUNTY — The Mock Trial teams from Oxford and Sherburne-Earlville schools will be competing in the Mock Trial finals on Friday, April 11 at the Chenango County Courthouse, with Supreme Court Justice Hon. Joseph McBride presiding.

The Chenango County Mock Trial program is run by the New York State Bar Association, and gives students a chance to build and present a criminal or civil case and present that case in front of a judge. In Chenango County, students from Gilbertsville-Mount Upton, Greene, Norwich, Oxford, and Sherburne-Earlville have participating teams.

Local Attorney for Children Lisa Natoli, who administers the Chenango County Mock Trial program, said the mock trial season starts with a practice round, followed by three additional rounds. Students competed in the semi-final round on Monday, with Chenango County Court Judge Hon. Frank Revoir, Jr. presiding.

"What we do in our county is we have a practice round, and then we have three more rounds. So each team gets to have four trials, two as plaintiffs, two as defense. They have to have three attorneys and three witnesses for each side," Natoli explained. "They have to present an entire trial. They have to present opening arguments, they have to present three witnesses, they have to conduct what’s called direct examination and cross examination, and then they give a closing argument."