Commack School District Develops Mock Trial Courtroom

The Commack Union Free School District will soon embark on construction of a mock trial courtroom at Commack High School that will bring new, real-world learning opportunities to its students and expand career readiness options for the District. The courtroom is being made possible through a $100,000 state grant secured by State Senator Jim Gaughran.

The facility will complement Commack High School's Mock Trial Program, which is a joint venture of The New York Bar Foundation, the New York State Bar Association, and the Law, Youth and Citizenship Program. In this educational program, Commack students can gain first-hand knowledge of civil and criminal law and courtroom procedure. Objectives of the program include teaching ethics, civility, and professionalism while furthering students' understanding of the law and the legal system.

Commack students have already seen success in this program in the 2021-2022 school year. The high school mock trial team participated in the New York State Mock Trial Competition and made mock trial history for the school by placing as a finalist in the Northport Law Day Competition. This facility will add to the team's real-world experience by giving them a true courtroom setting. Additional benefits of creating the mock trial courtroom include boosting students' valuable workspace readiness skills, employability, personal, professional, academic, and technical skills.

"We are excited to embark on this incredible programmatic milestone for our District," said Dr. Jordan Cox, Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Commack School District. "These funds will help us create a facility where our students will apply what they learn in the classroom in an authentic experience. We are grateful for the funds, and the ability to create real-world experiences.”

For more information about the Commack School District, please visit the District's website at https://www.commackschools.org. Happenings in the District can also be followed on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/commackschooldistrict.