By Andrew Corselli, Staff Writer
Student Tom Kozlowski sounded very comfortable in his courtroom role as a defense attorney in Tuesday’s mock trial competition in Somerville.
”You’re entitled to your own opinions but not your own facts,” he said during his opening statement.
Tom, a junior, is a member of Hillsborough High School’s Mock Trial team, which is eyeing its second county championship in three years following a triumph over Somerset County Vocational-Technical School in Tuesday’s semifinals.
”It’s great (being in the county finals again),” said coach Bob Fenster. “The kids work extremely hard. Hillsborough has built a really strong tradition and they feel like they have to fulfill it. We’re always very competitive.”
Both schools argued respective sides in a fictitious case circling around a high school student accused of hitting another student with her car. Defendant J.E. Moody, portrayed by junior Sravya Nallaganchu, allegedly ran into plaintiff Jordan Pederson, played by freshman Tom Klein, on high school grounds after being distracted by her cell phone. However, it was unclear who was at fault because Jordan was on his cell phone at the time of the accident.
”Every year they create a case that’s often based on real events — usually a hot-button issue,” Mr. Fenster said. “It’s created by the state bar, so there are attorneys that have experience in these areas.”
The case, held at the Somerset County courthouse, was overseen by Judge Julie M. Marino and litigating attorney Jim Moloughney, of DiFrancesco Bateman in Warren.
”There are two judges who preside over the trial. Usually they are practicing attorneys, but sometimes they get real judges,” said Mr. Fenster. “(For scoring) there’s a set of criteria so they can give one to 10 for the opening statement of the attorneys and witnesses on direct examination, and on cross-examinations they give lawyers points and so forth. They tally it up at the end of the night. We never get to see the score sheet, interestingly enough, and they announce the winner.”
Sophomore Aman Thakker, also acting as a defense attorney, did his part with cross-examinations and the closing arguments.
”We practiced this a lot,” said Aman, who hopes to go into law some day. “I was a little nervous because I had to add more information into the closings, but other than that I think I was prepared.”
Students received a case book that included facts, witness statements and basic rules of procedure. The semis are a little different from previous competition, as each team will only play one side. Prior to the trial, the teams will be told if they are acting as plaintiffs or defendants.
”Both sides, a plaintiff and a defendant, must have two lawyers and three witnesses for each side of the case,” said Mr. Fenster, who has coached the team for 14 years, including the last five. “Basically most teams have 10 students on the team — two lawyers for the plaintiff, two lawyers for the defense, three plaintiff witnesses and three defense witnesses. (In the semifinals) it’s our plaintiff against another school’s defendant or vice versa.”
Next Tuesday, Feb. 1, the team will face off for the title against Mount St. Mary Academy, which defeated Montgomery on Tuesday night. That case will be overseen by state Supreme Court Justice Helen E. Hoens and the Superior Court Judge Yolanda Ciccone, assignment judge for Vicinage XIII.
Mount St. Mary’s is a familiar foe for the Raiders; Hillsborough has faced off against the school in each of the past two seasons. Hillsborough won two years ago in the finals and succumbed last year in the semis.
”Mount St. Mary’s is consistently the toughest team in the county,” Mr. Fenster said. “This will be a bit of a tie-breaker.”
Other members of the Hillsborough Mock Trial team include senior Scott Grollman, who played defense witness Chris Mills and also plays a plaintiff attorney; senior Jay Thomas, who played defense witness Dr. Haley Comman; senior Eric Wang, who played plaintiff witness Dr. Delaney Jones; and senior Luke Memet, who played plaintiff witness Morgan Kristy.

