Law Day Ceremony Honors Middle’s Mock Trial Team

COURT HOUSE – In January, Middle Township High School’s Mock Trial Team refined its courtroom strategy for the annual inter-school competition. Tuesday and Thursday evenings that month was consumed by objections, cross examinations, sidebars, and other legal maneuvers. Their efforts were rewarded when they won the county Mock Trial competition by winning six out of six trials in the three-week competition.
Those collective efforts were rewarded with certificates and resolutions May 6 on Law Day. The team was honored by the Cape May County Bar Association with a ceremony in Courtroom B attended by seven Superior Court judges, including Assignment Judge Julio Mendez, Judges Michael Donohue, Christopher Gibson, John Porto, John Rauh, Nancy Ridgway and Donna Taylor.
Assemblyman Bruce Land (D-1st), Surrogate M. Susan Sheppard, County Clerk Rita Fulginiti, Freeholder E. Marie Hayes and Middle Township Mayor Michael Clark all congratulated the team and presented certificates.
The day was a bittersweet one for Middle Township High School teacher Martina Trapani, who ended her 16th and final year as teacher-coach of the team. She was lauded for her work through the years with a resolution presented by Hayes on behalf of the Board of Chosen Freeholders. Joining Trapani to accept the competition trophy was attorney-coach Howard Trout.
Trapani spoke briefly of her fondness for the team and what it meant to her to be with them in their high school legal “careers.”
Then each team member was individually recognized and shook hands with officials and judges. Mendez, on handing each their citation, asked where they planned to further their education in college.
Team members who attended were: Brenden Bond, Robert Cline, Amber D’Abundo, Timothy Gear, Austin Hentges, Dillion Keller, Kassandra Ramos, Casie Salvadore and Nicholas Stella.
In the west lobby and halls of the courthouse Law Fair exhibits were displayed by American Red Cross, Cape May County Bar Association, Cape Mediation Services and Cape May County Bar Foundation, county Board of Elections, county Superior Court Civil Division, County Clerk’s and County Surrogate’s Office, county Department of Aging and Disability Services, County Library and Cape Assist.