The RKYHS mock trial team competed in the New Jersey State Bar Foundation’s Vincent J. Apruzzese Mock Trial competition. Mock trial is a hybrid of drama, law and debate skills where a team of “attorneys” and “witnesses” from RKYHS compete against teams from other schools in the area who have prepared the same case. This year’s case featured a defamation of character lawsuit centered around cheating allegations posted to a blog that potentially cost a mock trial participant a scholarship.

Over the course of four months of preparation, the team learned trial strategies, the logic of creating arguments and questions, legal principles related to the case at hand and courtroom procedures. This dedicated team of students from all grades worked together to create a trial strategy and rehearse “what-if ” scenarios of questions, objections and witness preparation. The team owes a special debt of gratitude to its volunteer attorney coach, Mrs. Donna Butler, for her most generous contribution of time and expertise.