Law Day Marked, Middle’s Mock Trial Team Presented State Trophy

COURT HOUSE — Middle Township High School’s state champion Mock Trial team was in Courtroom A of Cape May County Courthouse Fri., April 29 as Superior Court Judge John Porto formally presented the Phoenix-Ariz.-bound team their hard-won trophy.
The event was one of the highlights of Law Day, hosted by the Cape May County Bar Association, and included a variety of short seminars on legal topics. Displays were set up in the west lobby.
On Thur., May 5 the 13-member team of student attorneys, witnesses, juror and understudies, and teacher coaches Martina Trapani and Joseph Towns will head west to seek the national championship.
Joining in the short ceremony were Superior Court Judges Raymond A. Batten, and John Rauh, Cape May County Bar Association President Andrew Catanese, Sheriff Gary Schaffer and County Clerk Rita Fulginiti, and Michele Devine-Hartnett, county Bar Association executive director.
Catanese told the students of the pride they brought to the Bar Association. He also cited the intense amount of preparation work mock trials took, and extended appreciation to Andrea P. McHugh, and James Moore, program coordinators.
Porto, long involved the county high schools’ mock trial program prior to becoming a judge, recalled how, on the evening he presided over one of Middle’s trials, the team lost, “But it was a very close evening,” he added.
He lauded the team as being “the most polished presentation” he had witnessed from 1994 until the present. Judges who presided over those evening cases volunteered their time.
Porto recalled to Trapani how four years ago, the mock trial team also won the state championship. Trapani has been associated with the school’s mock trial team for the past 13 years, she said.
Porto lauded the mock trial members, since, among other things, he said, the experience “Help you to think on your feet, and that’s why you are champions again.” The team was “excellent ambassadors of the county and state,” he said, and urged, “Enjoy the ride. You’re going to Arizona.”
Trapani extended her gratitude to the courts for allowing team members to observe real court cases in order for them to get a feel for proper conduct and demeanor in a courtroom setting.
Team members were: Brandon Adorno, Madison Benzell, plaintiff attorneys.
Lisa Marriner, Samantha Burkholder, Shelby Smith, witnesses.
James Mallia, Edward Runyon, defense attorneys,
Ryan Burke, Abdiel Santiago, Alex Casper, witnesses.
Ryan Hildebrandt, Ashley Smutnik, understudies.
Kaitlin Kenney, juror.
Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 Ext 28 or at: al.c@cmcherald.com