Mock Trial at Asbury Park Middle School

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During the month of March, Mr. Wronko and Mr. Schneider invited the Superior Court of New Jersey, Monmouth Vicinage “Journey to Justice Program” back to Asbury Park Middle School.

This year the students of Mr. Wronko and Mr. Schneider participated in a mock trial dealing with the ongoing problems of gangs.

The “Journey to Justice Program” also allowed students to participate in a Jeopardy game that tested the students’ background knowledge regarding the government and the judicial system.

Mr. Schneider’s students who participated were well prepared for this game as both his seventh and eighth grade classes battled it out to see who the experts on the government and judicial system were.

Besides the mock trial and the Jeopardy game, the “Journey to Justice Program” gave the fifth grade audience a wonderful presentation on howthe judicial system works,careers in law, the importance of education, and encouraging students on how to reach higher goals.

The presenters from the program were:
Judge Lawrence M. Lawson(Assignment Judge)
Judge Mark Apostolou (retired)
Judge Eugene Iadanza (retired)
Lori B. Cooper – Acting Trial Court Administrator
Ralph Esposito (VACPO – Vicinage Assistant Chief
Probation Officer)

The program’s committee members who helped organize the event were:
Ernest Anemone, Esq.
Sharon Astorino
Sheri Bouldin
Nicolo DiMaria
Carmen Flores
Melissa Garrett
Sheila B. Jones
Virginia Pauls
Sharen J. Ramirez

Finally, music teacher Ms. Friedman, knowing how important the event was to the students, allowed her music room to be opened to the cafeteria next door so there would be more space to conduct the mock trial and Jeopardy game. From there, Mr. Gold Farb, head custodian, was able to set up the seating arrangements that transformed the music room and cafeteria into a court setting.Security guard Lorne Pierce and Language Arts teacher, Mr. Harris, made sure the sound system worked to perfection.