April 1, 2026 – Springfield, Massachusetts – Students participating in the Hampden District Attorney’s Office Future Lawyers of Springfield program recently took part in a mock trial at Western New England University School of Law, marking the culmination of several months of learning about the criminal justice system and courtroom procedure.

Throughout the program, students met regularly with prosecutors, defense attorneys and other members of the legal community, learning about different roles in the courtroom and the fundamentals of trial work, including opening statements, closing arguments and direct and cross examinations.

In the weeks leading up to the mock trial, students were divided into prosecution and defense teams and spent two sessions preparing their cases, developing arguments, and organizing their strategy for trial.

The mock trial was held on Thursday, March 19 in a courtroom at Western New England University School of Law. Members of the Hampden District Attorney’s Office took on the roles of witnesses, the defendant and the judge, adding an element of realism to the proceedings. Students were challenged throughout the trial as participants stayed in character and introduced unexpected testimony and responses from the witness stand.

The case, which was not based on a real incident, involved an Operating Under the Influence (OUI) charge and included many of the legal and factual elements prosecutors frequently encounter in real cases.

At the conclusion of the trial, the judge ruled in favor of the defense, finding that the defense team had successfully established reasonable doubt as to whether the defendant had been operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated.

District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni said the mock trial is one of the most valuable parts of the Future Lawyers of Springfield program because it gives students the opportunity to apply what they have learned in a real courtroom setting.

“This program is about opening doors and giving students a real look at careers in law and public service,” Gulluni said. “They build relationships with members of the legal community, gain confidence and then have the opportunity to step into a courtroom and put everything they’ve learned into practice during the mock trial.”

The Future Lawyers of Springfield program is a partnership between the Hampden District Attorney’s Office and Western New England University School of Law and is designed to introduce local students to careers in the legal field and provide mentorship and hands-on learning opportunities.

Applications for the 2026–2027 Future Lawyers of Springfield program will open this summer. The program is open to high school, college and law students interested in careers in law and the criminal justice system. Those interested in applying or learning more about the program are encouraged to contact Deputy Director of Community Safety and Outreach Gina Anselmo at gina.anselmo@mass.gov.