PWCS Students Compete at Model Judiciary Supreme Court Round in Richmond, Virginia and Law Day Art Contest WinnerPrince William County Public Schools (PWCS) students have once again demonstrated their exceptional legal skills, securing a third consecutive victory at the 47th Annual Model Judiciary Program Supreme Court Round. This prestigious event, held recently in Richmond, allowed students to present appellate arguments to a panel of justices from the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Virginia Court of Appeals.

Highlights from the Supreme Court Round:

Anandya Sampath, a senior, and Sakshi Gowda, a sophomore, from Battlefield High School, won their round and were named the overall state competition winners.

 “The experience felt very real, and I learned a lot. Preparation for this competition revolved around practicing how to answer questions that the justices might ask and answering on our feet,” shared Sampath. “This victory meant so much to me because it was my last competition ever in high school and with my co-counsel Sakshi Gowda.”

“There is only so much prep you can do ahead of time because you can never be 100 percent sure what the judges are going to ask,” added Gowda. “But we made sure to do drills with questions and come up with sample responses to possible questions.”

Juris Field and Gavin McGregor, seniors from Patriot High School, and Rebecca Clark, a junior from C.D. Hylton High School, also won their rounds at the state competition.

This marks the third consecutive year that PWCS has clinched the state competition, with previous victories by Gainesville High School in 2024 and Patriot High in 2023.

"Our PWCS teams were very poised and handled the Justices' questioning under pressure," said Randi Warren, social studies teacher and law club sponsor at Patriot.  “All of our students did a fantastic job, and I can tell you that none of them faltered or stumbled.”

Additionally, Marcus Burleson, a junior at Patriot, won first place in the Law Day Art Contest for high schoolers at the Prince William Courthouse.

“I want to thank Ms. Warren for reaching out to me about this Annual Law Day Art Contest," shared Burleson. “She taught our Intro to Law class with both enthusiasm and passion, and noticed me doodling, so she encouraged me to submit my artwork.”

The Model Judiciary Program is supported by PWCS teachers, lawyers, and judges who contribute their time and expertise.

  • Teachers: Jeffrey Bergman and Kara Sidener, Gainesville High School; Julie Elston and Jamie Hughes, Charles J. Colgan Sr. High School; Nicole Falgiano, Woodbridge High School; Thomas Fennell, Battlefield High School; Tiffany Parra, Gar-Field High School; Kellie Schofield, C.D. Hylton High School; and Randi Warren, Patriot High School
  • Attorneys: Collin Crookenden, Chidi James, Caroline Lochabay, Steven Lofaso, and Aimee Solano
  • Judges from the Prince William Courthouse including Carlos Flores Laboy (JDR), Judge William Jarvis (GDC), Jacqueline Lucas (JDR), Katherine McCollam (JDR), Abigail Miller (JDR)

Congratulations to all our students for their outstanding achievements and for representing PWCS with excellence!

Program Overview: The Model Judiciary Program is a comprehensive journey through the legal system:

  • Mock Trials: After nearly five months of preparation, PWCS students conducted trials, delivering opening statements, examining witnesses, introducing evidence, and making closing arguments in front of jury panels and real judges at the Prince William Courthouse.
  • Moot Court: Selected students advanced to the regional round to make appellate arguments in a simulated appellate court proceeding, honing their legal argumentation and oral advocacy skills.
  • Supreme Court Round: Winners of the regional round competed at the Virginia State Supreme Court, arguing before a panel of current and retired Supreme Court Justices. Here students were presented with an appellate trial court scenario in which they must thoroughly understand the facts and evidence of the case. Additionally, they need to grasp the legal case law relevant to the court case, enabling them to apply those legal standards while making persuasive arguments during their appeal to the judges.