The students from the 5th Grade Gifted & Talented Program presented their winning mock trial case, “The Case of the Injured Basketball Star” at the New Jersey State Bar Foundation’s Law Fair in New Brunswick held in May. Prior to the presentation, the students were invited to prepare in the boardroom. Once court was in session, Attorney Deborah Factor, Esq. was introduced and presided over the trial. The students wrote a script and acted out the roles of the lawyers, plaintiff, defendant, and the witnesses. A bailiff swore in each of the four witnesses. An audience of children and teachers from Valley Road School in Clark, NJ and another elementary school from Monroe Township served as jury members. After the presentation of the case, the audience broke up into groups. The judge then asked each group to select a “foreperson” to deliver and explain their group’s verdict. After a brief question and answer portion between the judge and the jury, the 5th Graders and their teacher, Mrs. Tarello were presented with a plaque for the school and personalized certificates for each student.
(abover l-r) Mrs. Tarello, Mia Cardoso, Angela Colom, Timothy Frd, Gina Galiszewski, Mackenzie Nielsen, Kaitlyn O’Neill, Michael Olszewski, and Luke Texidor
