February 10, 2026 – Monson, Massachusetts – The cafeteria at Monson High School was transformed into a make-believe courtroom on Thursday, Jan. 29, as the eighth-grade class took part in a mock trial.

The mock trial is part of the Hampden District Attorney’s Adopt-a-Class program and is the third and final visit the office will make to the school.

The reenactment began with Community Safety & Outreach Deputy Director Gina Anselmo reading the fact pattern to the students.

The case – which is based off a real one but includes fake names – is an Operating Under the Influence, or OUI, case.

After hearing the facts, the class of approximately 50 were split into groups. Four students volunteered to serve as the witnesses, and the rest of the students were divided into three sections: prosecution, defense, and jury.

Each group was led by staff from the Hampden District Attorney’s Office, including Assistant District Attorney Patrick Murphy with prosecution, Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Simonian with defense, Community Safety & Outreach Director Tony Simmons and Anselmo with the jury, and Victim Witness Advocate Cassidy Dill with the witnesses.

In their respective groups, the District Attorney’s staff explained the goal of the prosecution, the goal of the defense, and the role and responsibilities of the jury, while Dill met with the witnesses to talk about what they can expect when they “take the stand,” including the types of questions they may receive from each side.

After these small group discussions, the class came back together for Murphy to explain what an opening statement is. He said that he always tries to keep it “pretty straightforward” – starting by introducing himself, explaining the case everyone is present for, what people can expect to hear, and so on.

Next, Simonian gave her opening statement from the defense, and prosecution called their first witness to the stand. Students on both sides then had the opportunity to question three witnesses, which included two “troopers,” and one “passenger” that was in the vehicle when it was pulled over.

All three witnesses shared important information from the fact pattern as the jury listened closely. After a five-minute deliberation following the questioning, the jury found the defendant guilty.

Students were then notified that in the real case the defendant was also found guilty.

“The Adopt-a-Class program is about giving students a fuller picture of the importance of the criminal justice system and how it incorporates and honors Constitutional rights,” said District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni. “The eighth graders at Monson High have now experienced something that shapes their learning this year and, just might, influence their educational and career paths.”

The Adopt-a-Class program will conclude with selected students spending half a day touring the Hampden County Hall of Justice as invited guests of the District Attorney.