Judge at Empire Philly
October 17-19, 2026
Stout Center for Criminal Justice
Presented in partnership with the
Empire Philly Advisory Board
Getting Started
Click on an option below to learn more:
What to Expect
When you volunteer as a judge or juror for one (or more!) 2.5 - 3 hour trial…
EXTRAORDINARY ADVOCACY
Watch a talented group of high school students from across the country argue a fascinating original case. Last year’s field consisted of 36 teams from 16 states and 4 countries, including 5 local schools.
ONE-OF-A-KIND COMPETITION FORMAT
Trials start with an oral argument, where the judge’s ruling impacts evidence at trial. Once the trial begins, each school direct examines one “guest witness”, a student from a different team that is given just 20 minutes to prepare with them. We challenge students to argue extemporaneously.
Our proprietary digital software, developed entirely in-house, makes it simple to score the students and to type comments on a laptop or your cell phone. But if that’s not your thing, then we’ll give you a paper ballot instead!
SCORE & PROVIDE FEEDBACK WITH EASE
Before each round, enjoy a hot catered meal from DiAntonio’s Catering, while networking with members of the legal community. Last year, 17 sitting judges volunteered at Empire Philly.
EAT WELL & NETWORK
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Review an Evaluator’s Guide, which includes background on the case and guidance for scoring the trial
Review a Bench Brief (presiders only) which includes a roadmap and script for presiding, legal documents, and a list of questions that you can ask advocates during the oral argument
Watch 30 minute training video via Zoom (or YouTube) prior to the competition.
Earn CLE
Eligible lawyers may earn CLE credits by attending 1-hour CLE workshops prior to our competition trials and, in some cases, for judging mock trials. Empire partners with the Pennsylvania Bar Association to process its Pennsylvania CLE credits, and Eagle Cove Bar Services to process its New York and New Jersey certificates.
Please note that we are not, ourselves, an accredited CLE provider.
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Earn 1 ethics credit for attending a one hour CLE workshop prior to the trial
Attorneys can earn up to 4 CLE credits, if they attend all 4 seminars
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New York & New Jersey lawyers can earn 3 CLE credits for judging mock trial subject to the following conditions:
Pennsylvania lawyers are not permitted to receive CLE credit for judging mock trial
The CLE credits are non-transitional (not for newly admitted attorneys, see here)
You cannot earn more than (3) CLE credits for judging more than one trial (NYSBA rules, not ours)
Certificates are e-mailed 6-8 weeks after the competition
Schedule
There are four (4) preliminary trials and a Championship Round. Volunteers are also invited to join us for the Opening Ceremony (Friday), Appreciation Night (Saturday PM), and the Closing Ceremony (Sunday PM).
This year, all preliminary trials will be held at the Juanita Stout Center for Criminal Justice.
The Championship Round will be held at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
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Arrive at 8:30 AM, if you intend to attend the one hour CLE workshop
Arrive at 9:15 AM, if you do not intend to attend the CLE workshop
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Arrive at 1:45 PM, if you intend to attend the one hour MCLE workshop
Arrive at 2:30 PM, if you do not intend to attend the MCLE workshop
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Hosted in the Wyeth Ballroom foyer (2nd floor) of the Sonesta Rittenhouse Square, following Round 2
Event is scheduled from 7:30 PM - 11:00 PM
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Arrive at 8:30 AM, if you intend to attend the one hour CLE workshop
Arrive at 9:15 AM, if you do not intend to attend the CLE workshop
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Arrive at 1:45 PM, if you intend to attend the one hour CLE workshop
Arrive at 2:30 PM, if you do not intend to attend the CLE workshop
The Closing Ceremony will be held immediately after the round in the Wyeth Ballroom of the Sonesta Rittenhouse Square.
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Arrive at 9:00 AM
(No CLE workshops are available during this time)
Empire Philly Advisory Board
Empire Philly would not be possible without the hard work of our Advisory Board, that diligently throughout the year to make our competition possible. You can view its members below.
Board Chairs
Honorable L. Felipe Restrepo - U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (Honorary)
David Trevaskis -Director of Pro Bono Emeritus, Pennsylvania Bar Association (Co-Chair)
Board Members
Alex Bowerman, Esq. - Assistant United States Attorneyfor the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Grant Keener - Senior Consultant, Spivey Consulting Group
Kathleen M. Smith, J.D. - Assistant Professor, Chestnut Hill College
Steve Patton, Esq. - Associate, McMonagle Perri LLP; Mock Trial Coach, Roman Catholic High School & Villanova Law
Ryan Smith - Teacher & Mock Trial Coach, Imhotep Institute Charter High School
Roberta West, Esq. - Teacher, Philadelphia School District
Want to learn more about Empire Philly?
Our Impact
A Local Perspective
Roman Catholic High School
& Villanova School of Law
“I’ve coached mock trial at the law school, college and high school level, and I can tell you that Empire Mock Trial's students are some of the most impressive I’ve ever seen. They litigate very complex and topical cases, which makes serving as a judge or juror really enjoyable. Additionally, the entire organization is top notch and shows immense gratitude to its volunteers. So if you can, please volunteer at Empire Philadelphia. I promise you won’t regret it.”
Steve Patton
Mock Trial Coach
Roman Catholic High School & Villanova School of Law
Associate Attorney, McMonagle Perri
Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School (MCSCS)
"Empire Mock Trial has been extremely generous to my students over the years. When we were a newer team back in 2018, they provided a full scholarship to every one of our members to travel, stay at hotels, and compete in New York. There, my students were able to connect with other mock trial students from all around the world and really sharpen their skills. Mock Trial has been a core part of my students’ high school experience and I hope more kids get to experience that. Thank you for considering judging at Empire Philadelphia -- you really are making a difference."
Ryan Smith
Mock Trial Coach
Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School (MCSCS)
High School Social Studies Teacher, MCSCS
Best of 2025
Ready to judge this fall?
Complete the form below
and we’ll see you soon.