Kittatinny scores a repeat victory in Mock Trial

Newton - With the Honorable Edward Gannon and John Mulhern presiding, a group of teenagers from Kittatinny Regional High School (KRHS) and Vernon High School were detained in Sussex County Superior Court Wednesday night. No, the students were not held in court for infractions; they were participating in the Vincent J. Apruzzese Mock Trial Competition, sponsored by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation. In a duplicate of their performance last year, champions KRHS beat Vernon in the county final and will go on to the regional competition on Feb. 14 at the New Jersey Law Center, New Brunswick. Gannon said, “They (KRHS) were very capable. The lawyers who coached the team did an excellent job. It was a very real experience for the students.” This educational program, organized through high schools throughout the state with teachers, local attorneys and judges participating, is now in its 25th year. According to the mock trial handbook, the program is designed to “increase comprehension of the historical, ethical and philosophical basis of the American system of justice.” The competition also hopes to increase students’ basic life and leadership skills, such as writing, listening, reading, speaking and analysis. The 72-page workbook outlines the fictional case, rules, and guidelines for teams. Teams must be prepared to argue both the plaintiff and defendant sides. They are scored by judges, based upon criteria such as witness performance, attorney examination and cross examination, and opening and closing arguments. “We don’t try to get things in unfairly, we don’t try to trick the other teams, we just play by the rules,” said Mary Kenah, 17, a team member from KRHS. “We practice really hard, five days a week for three hours per day.” Kenah also said that if the KRHS team wins the state championship, it will move on to the Nationals and may have a chance to compete in Orlando, Florida. The school has won three times since the program’s inception in 1982-83. The KRHS team members are Corey Stewart, Hampton, Kelly Ganon, Stillwater, Christopher Kaltsas, Fredon, Carolyn McGrover, Hampton, Megan Wilson, Fredon, Julia Miller, Fredon, Mary Kenah, Fredon, Christie Pazdzierski, Hampton, Greg Karakos, Fredon, Trevor Pinho, Hampton, and Ashley Moncho, Fredon. The fictional case involves a high school student, Miss Ina Fectious, claiming that after eating a hamburger with the works at a local fast food restaurant, she acquired a strain of E. coli. The plaintiff is suing Tagen Burgers restaurant for serving her a hamburger sandwich allegedly adulterated with the virus.