HARRISBURG (April 26, 2010) - More than 750 high school students, teacher coaches and lawyer advisers will be in Philadelphia May 6 - 9 to compete in the National High School Mock Trial Championship, hosted by the Pennsylvania Bar Association.

Forty-four teams are scheduled to compete for the national title. The teams represent more than 41 U.S. states, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (a commonwealth of 15 islands in the west Pacific Ocean in political union with the U.S.) and South Korea.

Representing Pennsylvania in the competition is Scranton Preparatory School, winners of Pennsylvania's Statewide High School Mock Trial Competition, a project of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Young Lawyers Division.

The mock trial team from B. Reed Henderson High School of West Chester, which placed second at the state competition, is currently on stand-by to compete at the national event. Henderson will be called into play should there be an odd number of teams participating.

"As the birthplace of liberty and many of the ideas that sustain our democracy, Philadelphia is the ideal location for this national event," said Clifford E. Haines, Pennsylvania Bar Association president. "We have built time into the schedule for students to visit the National Constitution Center, which will be of special interest to young people learning about the law and the foundations of our government."

Haines said that students will have lasting memories of Pennsylvania because of the places they will see and the people they will meet.

There will be receptions hosted by First Lady Judge Marjorie O. Rendell, who is honorary chair of the competition, and a visit from Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter. The final round of the competition will take place in the Philadelphia City Hall courtroom where the movie Philadelphia was filmed. The presiding judge of the final round will be Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille.

When not in competitive rounds, the students will be entertained by the Eagles Pep Band, the Mummers and the Colonial Fife & Drum Corps from Central York Middle School of York County.

The design of the event logo is lifted from Pennsylvania history. A severed snake image and the words "UNITE OR DIE" used in the logo are references to a famous political cartoon created by Benjamin Franklin for a 1754 edition of his Pennsylvania Gazette newspaper. The cartoon appeared with Franklin's editorial about the importance of unity among the colonies. The cartoon has been reprinted and redrawn widely throughout American history, including during the Revolutionary War, the Civil War and now the 2010 National High School Mock Trial.

Haines said the national event is the result of more than three years of planning and fundraising activity. More than 300 Pennsylvania law students, lawyers, judges, educators and other volunteers will staff the event and judge the mock trials.

Haines said that the state bar association is grateful to the many volunteers and also the many financial supporters who made contributions during the economic downturn.

"Drexel University stepped forward early in the process and signed on as our leadership sponsor," said Haines. "To Drexel and to the dozens of nonprofit groups, law firms and individuals who have also contributed, we say thank you for helping us put together an educational event these students will long appreciate and remember."

Haines said that the statewide association itself is a major contributor, as is the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation, the association's charitable affiliate.

The Pennsylvania Bar Association last hosted the National High School Mock Trial Championship 14 years ago in Pittsburgh.

More information about the national event is available at this Web site: http://www.2010nationalmocktrial.com.

Founded in 1895, the Pennsylvania Bar Association strives to promote justice, professional excellence and respect for the law; improve public understanding of the legal system; facilitate access to legal services; and serve the 29,000 lawyers who are members of the association.