WALDORF, Md. — North Point High School’s Mock Trial team has advanced to the Final Four of the Maryland Youth & the Law statewide competition, marking the program’s second semifinal appearance in recent years after reaching the same stage in 2023.
The Eagles secured their berth with a quarterfinal victory over Marriotts Ridge High School of Marriottsville on March 17, 2026. The team, representing Charles County, now prepares to argue the defense side against Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School on March 26 at the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court. The top two teams from the semifinals will advance to the state championship finals on March 27 in the courtroom of the Supreme Court of Maryland in Annapolis.
North Point progressed through the season by competing against various teams in local and regional rounds before earning a spot in the quarterfinals. The victory over Marriotts Ridge clinched their place among the state’s top four squads in this year’s bracket, which featured eight teams in the playoff stage.
Mock Trial, sponsored by Maryland Youth & the Law in partnership with the Maryland State Bar Association and Maryland Judicial Conference, provides high school students across the state with hands-on experience in the legal system. Participants study a fictional case drawn from real-life issues, then serve as attorneys or witnesses for either the prosecution/plaintiff or defense. Professional judges and attorneys evaluate performances based on legal knowledge, presentation skills, and courtroom poise. Teams typically compete multiple times locally—often in actual district or circuit courtrooms—before reaching the state level.
The North Point team is coached by Frederick Sanford, a business education teacher at the school, and Dajuon Maillard, a mathematics teacher. Nick Teleky, a 2011 North Point graduate and practicing intellectual property lawyer, serves as the attorney coach, bringing professional expertise to guide strategy and preparation.
This advancement highlights sustained success for North Point’s program in Charles County, where the team has demonstrated consistent performance in a competitive statewide field. The 2026 competition underscores the value of experiential learning in building critical thinking, public speaking, and understanding of legal processes among Southern Maryland students.
Charles County Public Schools announced the achievement, noting the team’s strong showing in the quarterfinal round. No further details on individual student performances or the specific case arguments were released in initial statements. The program continues to draw participation from schools throughout Maryland, with the state championship serving as the culmination of months of preparation and competition.