Boston College Law School held the championship round of its annual Mock Trial Competition on October 23, an event designed to sharpen students’ litigation skills. Teams of two engaged in a realistic courtroom setting, demonstrating their abilities in motion arguments, opening statements, witness examinations, and closing arguments.
The 2024 champions were Justin Sells ’26 and Bennett Demsky ’27, who remained undefeated throughout five rounds of competition. The runner-up team consisted of Jess Parillo ’25 and Lucas Rondan ’25. Demsky was also named Best Advocate, the only student to receive this recognition in every round, including in the finals. Sage Wenninghoff was awarded Best Witness, earning the title four times throughout the tournament.
US District Court Judge for the District of New Hampshire, Hon. Paul Barbadoro ’80, who has been judging the Mock Trial Competition for more than twenty years, declared this one of the best final rounds that he has seen. Director of Advocacy Programs Rosemary Daly echoed the sentiment.
The largest competition in several years featured forty-four competitors—originally 2L and 3L students—coupled into twenty-two teams. Their case was State of Lonestar v. Justice Jackson, an adapted criminal case where the defendant was charged with burglary and felony theft. Advocates explored issues relating to eyewitness testimony reliability, forensic evidence, and the defendant’s alibi defense that he was watching TV’s “The Bachelor” with his ex-spouse at the time of the crime.
The team that ended up winning the Mock Trial Competition, though, had to deal with an unusual circumstance after a month’s preparation and two days before they were to begin presenting their case, according to competition co-chair Caleb Brady ’25. When Sells’s original teammate had to withdraw due to an unforeseen emergency, the event organizers quickly emailed the entire student body offering anyone who was willing to step up a chance to compete, regardless of their year. The first response was from Demsky, a 1L, who prepped the case in forty-eight hours.
The newly formed Sells-Demsky team went on to sweep the competition and won every ballot in each of their rounds. Demsky’s Best Advocate wins made him the first 1L in BC Law history to receive an invitation to join the National Trial Team, which competes in the TYLA National Trial Competition each spring semester.
Photographs by Caleb Brady ’25 and Noah DeRossi ’25