West Morris Mendham Mock Trial Team Honored; Latino Legal Pioneers Exhibit Unveiled
The West Morris Mendham High School mock trial team, winners of the Morris County Mock Trial Competition for an unprecedented 20th consecutive year, were honored yesterday in the historic courtroom of the Morris County Courthouse for placing second out of 216 teams in the 2024-25 statewide Vincent J. Apruzzese High School Mock Trial Competition hosted by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation.
The team will represent New Jersey next week at the National High School Mock Trial Championship, taking place May 7-10 in Phoenix, stepping in after state champion Mainland Regional High School was unable to attend.
View More Photos from the 2025 Morris County Law Day Ceremony
Morris County Commissioners Douglas Cabana and Thomas Mastrangelo congratulated the team and presented certificates of honor, alongside Morris County Bar Foundation President Linda Mainenti Walsh, who also recognized and presented awards to each student.
“This program teaches students how to debate with discipline, think strategically and build logical arguments. Today, we have the privilege of celebrating these promising young leaders who have embraced and excelled in these skills,” said Commissioner Cabana.
The West Morris Mendham team included Nathan Acheampong, Anthony Khakhiashvili, Tess Kutlu, Kira Mandel, Olivia Piacenti, Cole Smith, Ryan Smith, Julia Sun, Francesca Voyles and Caroline Ziegler. The team was coached by teacher Eric Heditsch, in his 26th year, and attorney William Connelly, who has volunteered for 22 years.
Julia Sun also took first place in the courtroom artist competition. Nikki Knarr of Vernon Township High School earned an honorable mention, and Joana Jayanth of Chatham High School placed second in the court reporter contest.
The 2025 Law Day theme, “The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One,” inspired the program. Morris/Sussex Vicinage Assignment Judge Stuart A. Minkowitz opened the ceremony.
“Law Day reminds us to rededicate ourselves to shared national ideals of liberty, justice and equality under the law. The Constitution enshrines our collective responsibility to one another, and the 2025 Law Day theme urges us to take pride in a constitution that bridges our differences to bring us together as a united nation,” said Judge Minkowitz.
In his keynote address, New Jersey Supreme Court Associate Justice Michael Noriega, reflected on the unifying power of the words “We the People.”
“This courtroom belongs to all of us,” said Justice Noriega. “Justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done. Courts are open to the public, which keeps the system honest and accountable. If you can’t see how decisions are made, it’s difficult to know that you can trust them.”
The event opened and closed with performances by the chorus ensemble of the Mayo Performing Arts Center, a group of talented, audition-based teens who sang the national anthem and other selections. The Morris County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard presented the colors, and Susan Chait, trial court administrator for the Morris/Sussex Vicinage, led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Following the ceremony, attendees gathered in the jury assembly room for the opening of the “Hispanic/Latino Pioneers in the Law” exhibit, celebrating the contributions of Hispanic legal professionals, including Appellate Division Judge Martiza Berdote Byrne and former Morris County Bar Association President John Paul Velez. The exhibit, featuring news articles, photographs and artifacts, will remain on display until Aug. 15.
The 2025 Law Day event was sponsored by the Superior Court of New Jersey, Morris/Sussex Vicinage, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the Vicinage Advisory Committee on Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement, in collaboration with the Morris and Sussex County Bar Associations, the Morris County Bar Foundation and the Hispanic Bar Association.
Among those attending in person and virtually were Morris County Sheriff James Gannon, State Sen. Anthony Bucco, Morris County Prosecutor Robert Carroll, Morris County Deputy Public Defender Susan McCoy, Morris County Surrogate Heather Darling and Morris County Clerk Ann Grossi.
Law Day, celebrated annually on May 1, was established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958 as a day of national dedication to the principles of government under law.
Photo: Front row (l-r) Sheriff James Gannon, Olivia Piacenti, New Jersey Supreme Court Associate Justice Michael Noriega, Caroline Ziegler, Kira Mandel, Commissioners Thomas Mastrangelo and Douglas Cabana. Back row (l-r) Attorney-coach William Connelly, Teacher-coach Eric Heditsch, Julia Sun, Nathan Acheampong, Tess Kutlu, Anthony Khakhiashvili, Morris/Sussex Vicinage Judge Stuart A. Minkowitz, Ryan Smith, New Jersey Supreme Court Associate Justice Anne M. Patterson and Morris County Bar Foundation President Linda Mainenti Walsh.