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Informed Citizens

are Better Citizens

High School Mock Trial

In Memorium
Vincent J. Apruzzese, Esq.
1928 – 2024

It is with great sadness that the New Jersey State Bar Foundation announces the passing of Vincent J. Apruzzese, Esq., the namesake of our High School Mock Trial Competition.  Mr. Apruzzese was an icon in the legal industry in New Jersey.  He was a past president of the New Jersey State Bar Association and led the drive to build the New Jersey Law Center.  He regularly attended the state championship finals of the competition, which was named in his honor many years ago, and personally congratulated each of the students participating. As the first chairman of the New Jersey State Bar Foundation and its Public Education Committee, he was dedicated to the implementation of free, law-related education programs for the public, and particularly for young people. He will be greatly missed.

Questions

Please contact Sheila Boro, the Foundation’s Director of Mock Trial Programs, at 732.937.7519 or e-mail sboro@njsbf.org.

Competition begins on the local level in January or February. For your county’s competition dates and time, or to obtain an attorney-coach for your team, please contact your Mock Trial County Coordinator using the contact information at the end of this page.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR: The NJSBF State Mock Trial Championship Finals will be held on March 28, 2024 – 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick. The snow date is April 5, 2024.

See Rule 2:12 on page 15 of the 2023-2024 Mock Trial Workbook for details.

2023-2024 Competition

  • Mock Trial Brochure/Summary click here to view and download.
  • Click 2023-2024 NJSBF Mock Trial Workbook to download. The workbook contains the rules, procedures and the new case.  This year’s criminal case  is on college admissions fraudAt the elite Metropolitan University,  a review of college essays seemingly generated by AI leads to allegations of improper payments and perks from a college admissions consultant to the former dean of admissions. 
  • Rules of Evidence Study Guide – For a quick reference to some of the mock trial rules of evidence, click HERENOTE: This chart does NOT replace the Mock Trial Rules of Evidence in Part VI of the Mock Trial Workbook.
2023-2024 Case Clarifications - click to open
As of November 2, 2023 there are 9 (nine) clarifications.

Clarification #1 – October 13, 2023
On page 53, line 35 of the 2023-2024 Mock Trial Workbook, change “phone conversation between Morris and Kirwin” to “phone conversation between Morris and Cote.”

Clarification #2 – October 17, 2023
On page 48, second paragraph under #2, Kirwin’s first name was spelled incorrectly.  It should be Ellis.

Clarification #3 – October 26, 2023
On page 60, lines #44- 45, as well as in stipulation #6, delete Certified Forensic Accountant and replace with Certified Fraud Examiner.

Clarification #4 – October 26, 2023
 There are no expert witnesses in this year’s case.

Clarification #5 – October 26, 2023
 On page 29, delete “within the scope of Rule 702” at the end of the sentence under Rule 701 (c).

Clarification #6 – October 26, 2023
 On page 34, third paragraph, change Morris from “a key witness for the State” to a key witness for the Government.

Clarification #7 – October 26, 2023
 On page 50, line #32, delete “private” before school.

Clarification #8 – October 31, 2023
 On page 58, at the end of  line 72,  “they” in this instance refers to Devon Morris.

Clarification #9 – November 2, 2023
 On page 50, at the end of line #29, add the word vendor before license.

 

Mock Trial Scrimmage Match-Up for 2023-2024

Interested in scrimmaging with other teams outside of your county?  Our new  pilot “Mock Trial Match-Up” tool can help.  To register and to create your team’s match-up profile, please visit scrimmage.njsbf.org.

Click for instructions: NJSBF Mock Trial Scrimmage Matchup Steps Sept 2023

  • TEAM ENTRY REGISTRATION for the 2024 Competition is OPEN. Enter HERE or use the button to the left. Submit your entry form no later than Friday, October 27, 2023. There is no charge to enter.
  • 2023-2024 Code of Conduct: All participants (teachers, attorney-coaches, students) must complete the Code of Conduct form by Dec. 1, 2023. Submit the form HERE.
  • Mock Trial Role Sheet –  Prior to each trial, please fill out the names of the students and the roles they will play. Two options available: Fillable and printable PDF (click HERE) or a printable MS Word file (click HERE).
  • Did you know? We also offer a Courtroom Sketch Artist Contest and a Courtroom News Reporter Competition for high school students. Please share with your colleagues and help us spread the word!
NOTE TO FIRST-TIME TEACHER-COACHES

Experienced mock trial teacher-coaches have volunteered to assist first-time mock trial teacher-coaches whose schools have registered for the 2023-2024 competition.  The volunteers listed below are available via email to answer questions from new mock trial teacher-coaches about the mock trial competition processes and proceduresNote that their support is limited to processes and procedures only.

Past State Champions – For the Honor Roll of past state champions, click here.

Past Mock Trial Finals

 

For the first time since 2019, finalist teams vied in person for the state title on March 20, 2023.  Watch Mendham High School of Morris County and Princeton Day School of Mercer County battle for first place. View the video HERE. (Please note that there are multiple file sizes listed, each with a different resolution level. Please check the file size before downloading to ensure your device will accept the file size. We recommend 360p or 240p for standard viewing).

Virtual Mock Trial Finals, held March 23, 2022, features Bordentown Regional High School of Burlington County and West Morris Mendham High School of Morris County.  View the video HERE.

The first-ever virtual finals, held March 18, 2021, features Lower Cape May Regional High School of Cape May County and West Morris Mendham High School of Morris County. View the video HERE.

View excerpts from the 2018-19 Mock Trial Finals (opening statements, direct- and cross-examinations of witnesses and closing arguments),

Take a look at the short video below, which highlights the Vincent J. Apruzzese High School Mock Trial Competition.

County Mock Trial Coordinators:

Addresses and contact information below are provided for official, NON-COMMERCIAL use for the benefit only of registered participants in NJSBF’s mock trial competition. Please do not use this information for solicitation purposes.

ATLANTIC
County Coordinator
Name:    Julie Nugent, Esq.
Firm:     Fox Rothschild LLP
1301 Atlantic Avenue
Midtown Building, Suite 400
Atlantic City, NJ 08401-7212
Tel:        609-572-2323
Fax:       609-348-6834
E-mail:   JNugent@foxrothschild.com

BERGEN
County Co-Coordinator
Name:    Nicole McDonough, Esq.
Firm:     Sills Cummis & Gross P.C.
One Riverfront Plaza
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Tel:        973-643-5967
Email: nmcdonough@sillscummis.com

County Co-Coordinator
Name:    John McDermott, Esq.
Firm:      Harwood Lloyd
130 Main Street
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Tel:        201-487-1080
Fax:       201-487-4758
Email:    jmcdermott@harwoodlloyd.com

BURLINGTON
County Coordinator
Name:  Brett E. J. Gorman, Esq.
Firm:    Gorman, D’Anella, & Morlok, LLC
Atlantic City Office
1601 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 700
Atlantic City, NJ 08401
Tel:     609-429-4600
E-mail:  bgorman@gdmlawgroup.com

CAMDEN
County Coordinator
Name:    Peter Frattarelli, Esq.
Firm:      Archer & Greiner
One Centennial Square
Haddonfield, NJ  08033
Tel:        856-795-2121
Fax:       856-795-0574
E-mail:   pfrattarelli@archerlaw.com

CAPE MAY
County Co-Coordinator
Name:   Justin D. Turner, Esq.
Firm:     Shoreside Legal, LLC
P.O. Box 106
Ocean View, NJ 08230
Tel:       609-536-9799
E-mail: jdtlaw@comcast.net

County Co-Coordinator
Name: Ed Simonson, Esq.
P.O. Box 785
Marmora NJ 08223
Tel: (609) 602-8167
Email: Edsimonsonlaw@gmail.com

County Co-Coordinator
Name: Paul M. Stanton, Esq.
Firm: McCrosson & Stanton, P.C.
200 Asbury Avenue
Ocean City, NJ 08226
Tel: (609) 399-2411
Email: paul@mccrossonstantonlaw.com

CUMBERLAND
County Coordinator
Name:    Teri L. Giordano, Esq.
Firm:      Van Embden Van Embden & Giordano, P.C.
900 E. Pine Street, PO Box 863
Millville, NJ  08332
Tel:         856-327-5656
Fax:        856-327-5852
E-mail:  teri@vanembden.com

ESSEX
County Co-Coordinator
Name: Janika S. Best, Esq.
Email: janikabest@gmail.com

County Co-Coordinator
Name: Daniel A. Krieger, Esq.
Firm: Margolis Edelstein
400 Connell Drive, Suite 5400
Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
Tel: 908-790-7774
Email:dkrieger@margolisedelstein.com

County Co-Coordinator
Name: Lauren Jones, Esq.
Firm: Javerbaum Wurgaft Hicks Kahn Wikstrom & Sinins, P.C
505 Morris Avenue, Suite 200
Springfield, NJ 07081
Tel: 973-379-4200
Email: ljones@lawjw.com

GLOUCESTER
County Coordinator
Name:    Lewis C. Fichera, Esq.
Firm:      773 West Atlantic Avenue
Sewell, NJ 08080
Tel:        856-468-3000
Fax:       856-468-3089
Email:   lewis.fichera@yahoo.com

 

HUDSON
County Coordinator
Name:    Steve McCurrie, Esq.
Firm:      McCurrie, McCurrie & McCurrie, LLC
680 Kearny Avenue
Kearny, NJ  07032
Tel:        201-997-2100
Fax:       201-997-9567
E-mail:   mccurrielaw@mccurrielaw.com

HUNTERDON
County Co-Coordinator
Name:    John Macce, Esq.
Firm:      Macce & Cresti, PC
17 East Main Street
Clinton, NJ  08809
Tel:        908-713-9008
Fax:       908-713-9009
E-mail:   john@maccelaw.com

County Co-Coordinator
Name:    Anne M. Mohan, Esq.
Firm:      Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP
Headquarters Plaza
One Speedwell Avenue
Morristown, NJ  07962-1981
Tel:        973-451-8471
Fax:       973-451-8726
Email:    amohan@RIKER.com

MERCER
County Coordinator
Name:    Domenic B Sanginiti, Jr.
Firm:      Stark & Stark
100 American Metro Boulevard
Hamilton, NJ 08619
Tel:       609-895-7399
Email: dsanginiti@stark-stark.com

MIDDLESEX
County Coordinator
Name:  Jenee K. Ciccarelli, Esq.
Firm:   Ciccarelli Law, PC
47 Park Avenue, Suite 304
West Orange, NJ 07052
Tel:      973-737-9060
Fax:     973-619-0023
Email: jenee@jc-lawpc.com

MONMOUTH
County Co-Coordinator
Name:  Elissa Perkins, Esq.
Firm: LaRocca Hornik Rosen Greenberg & Crupi, LLC
252 South Street
Freehold, NJ 07728
Tel: 732-409-1144 ext. 270
Fax: 732-409-0350
Email: eperkins@divorcelawnj.com  

County Co-Coordinator
Name: Amanda Wolf, Esq.
Firm:   Wolf Law, PC
214 Broad St.
PO Box 8938
Red Bank, NJ 07701
Tel: 732-741-4448
Email: mailto:awolf.redbanklaw@gmail.com

MORRIS
County Co-Coordinator
Name:    David L. Disler, Esq.
Firm:      Porzio, Bromberg & Newman, PC
100 Southgate Parkway
PO Box 1997
Morristown, NJ 07962-1997
Tel:         973-889-4133
Fax:        973-538-5146
E-mail:   dldisler@pbnlaw.com

County Co-Coordinator
Name:   Christopher P. Mazza, Esq.
Firm:     Porzio, Bromberg & Newman P.C.
100 Southgate Parkway
PO Box 1997
Morristown, NJ 07962-1997
Tel:         973-889-4256
Fax:        973-538-5146
E-mail:    cpmazza@pbnlaw.com

County Co-Coordinator
Name:   Raquel R. Rivera, Esq.
Firm:     Porzio, Bromberg & Newman P.C.
100 Southgate Parkway
PO Box 1997
Morristown, NJ 07962-1997
Tel:         973-462-0335
Fax:        973-538-5146
E-mail:    RRRivera@pbnlaw.com

OCEAN
County Co-Coordinator
Name:    Stacie A. Brustman, Esq.
Firm:      Adams & Brustman, LLC
550 U.S. Highway 70, Suite A
Lakehurst, NJ  08733
Tel:         732-657-8300
Fax:        732-657-4545
E-mail:    sbrustman307@gmail.com

County Co-Coordinator
Name:    Taylor Toscano, Esq.
Firm:      Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office
119 Hooper Avenue
Toms River, NJ  08753
Tel:       732-929-2027, ext. 2741
E-mail:  ttoscano@co.ocean.nj.us

PASSAIC
County Coordinator
Name:      Alfred V. Acquaviva, Jr.
1114 Goffle Road
Suite 203
Hawthorne, NJ  07506
Tel:          973-423-4472
Fax:         973-423-6013
E-mail:     aljunior@avalawyers.com

SALEM
County Coordinator
Name:     Christopher Pine, Esq.
Tel:          856-906-4794
E-mail:     cpine@pinelawoffice.com

SOMERSET
County Coordinator
Name:     Adelaide Riggi, Esq.
Firm:       Snyder Sarno D’Aniello Maceri & da Costa LLC
440 Route 22 East, Suite 170
Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Tel:         908-927-0200
Fax:        908-927-0207
E-mail:    ariggi@snydersarno.com

SUSSEX
County Coordinator
Name: Travis W. Nunziato, Esq.
Firm:   Laddey, Clark & Ryan, LLP
60 Blue Heron Rd, Suite 300
Sparta, NJ 07871
Tel:      973-729-1880
Fax:     973-729-1224
E-mail: Tnunziato@lcrlaw.com

UNION
County Coordinator
Name:    Samuel J. Berse, Esq.
Firm:      Berse Law
217 Elmer Street
Westfield, NJ 07090
Tel:         855-326-5291
Fax:        855-326-5292
E-mail: sam@berselaw.com

WARREN
County Coordinator
Name:    Jessica L. Cardone, Esq.
Firm:    Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office
65 Park Avenue
P.O. Box 756
Flemington, NJ 08822
Tel:        908-788-1129
Fax:       908-806-4618
E-mail: jcardone@co.hunterdon.nj.us