The 2006-2007 Statewide High School Mock Trial Competition is down to its final "magnificent four." Last fall, over 1900 high school students, representing 132 high schools across Maryland, entered the Maryland State Bar Association's (MSBA) annual statewide High School Mock Trial Competition, hoping to advance to this year's final championship, which will be held in Annapolis on April 27-28, 2007.

The top four teams to emerge as the "magnificent four" finalists are: Allegany High School in Allegany County; Severna Park High School in Anne Arundel County; The Salisbury School in Wicomico County; and Owings Mills High School in Baltimore County.

In this competition, student mock trial teams perform the same trial, assuming the roles of attorneys and witnesses. Teams devote countless hours in preparation for the competition under the direction and guidance of volunteer attorney and teacher advisors. Attorneys and judges volunteer to coach the students and assist them throughout the competition. Over 600 enactments of the mock trial are convened during the competition. MSBA's educational arm in Maryland schools, the Citizenship Law-Related Education Program (CLREP), manages the competition.

Since its inception in 1983, over 36,000 Maryland youth have participated in MSBA's Mock Trial Competition. MSBA sponsors this educational and enjoyable contest to promote young people's understanding of the law, trial procedures and the legal system. For more information, or to get involved, contact CLREP at 410-706-5360 or www.clrep.org.