Minnesota Center for Youth Voice was excited to host this year’s National Judicial Competition

The YMCA National Judicial Competition (NJC) is an annual competition for high school student participants to refine their advocacy skills and compete in Mock Trial and Appellate Court proceedings with students from across the country.

Minnesota Center for Youth Voice was excited to host this year’s competition from July 28-31, 2025. 

300 students and 75 adults from 19 states came together to compete in Mock Trial and Appellate Court competitions. On the final day of the competition, the Appellate Court Showcase took place inside the Supreme Court Courtroom with a packed audience of student spectators.

23 delegates from Minnesota and Wisconsin (known as the Minnesconin team) had 1 Mock Trial Team and 7 Appellate Trial Teams. Overall, there were 17 Mock Trial teams who competed in five rounds and 71 Appellate teams who competed in 10 rounds over the course of two days.

Minnesota’s very own Ellie Aars and Andrew Staff won the Appellate Showcase on Thursday morning.

Other highlights included food trucks along the Capitol Mall for lunch, a behind-the-scenes tour with Supreme Court Justice Karl Procaccini, evening activities with karaoke, inflatables, crafts, and games on Tuesday night; and 8 busloads of delegates spending the evening at the Mall of America on Wednesday night.

The Center for Youth Voice recruited 75 legal professionals to evaluate and provide feedback to students during the competition rounds; on Tuesday, our friends at Fredrikson & Byron Law Firm sponsored a “thank you” reception for all the volunteers, including several judges, in the Capitol Vault.

A huge thank you to all of our volunteers for making this event possible.