Mercer Vicinage to Host 2024 Mock Trial Competition

The Mercer Vicinage and the Mercer County Bar Association will host the 2024 Vincent J. Apruzzese High School Mock Trial Competition on Saturday, Jan. 20 and Wednesday, Jan. 24.

The competition will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 20 in the Civil Courthouse, 175 S. Broad St., Trenton and the finals will be held at 3 p.m. on Jan. 24 in the Criminal Courthouse, 400 S. Warren St., Trenton.

This year, 11 public and private schools will participate in a competition that features a fictional criminal case involving college admissions fraud. The students will play the roles of plaintiff, defendant, attorney, witnesses, and jurors.

Winners of the county competition will be announced at the final round on Jan. 24. They will advance to the central regional competition on Feb. 29, when they will have a chance to advance to the state championship.

Serving as judges during the competition are Superior Court Judges Robert Lytle, Peter E. Warshaw, and Brian McLaughlin; Municipal Court Judge Lewis Korngut; Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo Onofri; and Hunterdon County First Assistant Prosecutor Joseph Paravecchia. Members of the bar association will serve as volunteer judges and attorney coaches. Court staff volunteers will assist in ensuring that the day of the competition runs smoothly.

The vicinage’s mock trials are coordinated by attorneys Jessica A. Wilson and Domenic Sanginiti.