Mock trial squad aims for regional title.
By: Lea Kahn
The Lawrence High School mock trial team moved one step closer to achieving a goal that has been just beyond the team’s reach since the 1990s a state title.
Tuesday afternoon, Lawrence High School’s would-be lawyers defeated their counterparts from Hunterdon Central High School and Piscataway High School in the first stage of a two-part regional competition. The contest was held at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick.
Now, LHS will square off against the Network of Independent Christian Home Educators, based in Pemberton Township, in its quest for the Central Jersey Regional championship. The winner of that contest, slated for Feb. 28, advances to the statewide semifinals in March.
Each year, the mock trial teams must "try" a case before a panel of judges. This year’s fictitious case involves a fight between two high school students.
One student is slammed in the face with a 35-pound backpack that the other student is carrying. The impact breaks the victim’s jaw, knocks out several teeth and leaves the student unconscious. The student who threw the backpack had been bullied by the victim.
It is up to the jury to determine whether the incident was accidental, a matter of self-defense or an intentional act, given the history of bullying between the victim and the student who tossed the backpack, said attorney Steven Goodell, who coaches the team with LHS history teacher Mark Rowe.
Each mock trial team fields a plaintiff’s attorney or attorneys, and a defense attorney or attorneys. Other team members serve as plaintiffs, defendants and witnesses.
Mr. Goodell and Mr. Rowe have led the mock trial team to 11 Mercer County championships and five Central Jersey Regional championships. The team advanced to the statewide final contest, placing third in 1993, and second in 1994, 1998 and 2003.
This year’s LHS mock trial team is made up of Zach Baldwin, Corrine Beyrouty, Paul Brown, Andy Budzinski, Parimal Garg, Emily Goodell, Alexander Ramey, Poonam Shah, Dimitri Zahkarov and Kaya Zelasny.