Livingston Celebrates Law Day 2012

The law is the guardian of civil justice, social order, and public safety, and protects the fundamental rights and liberties of all Americans. In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower established Law Day on May 1^st with the proclamation "that the people of this Nation should remember with pride and vigilantly guard the great heritage of liberty, justice, and equality under law which our forefathers bequeathed to us." And what better way to celebrate democracy sustained by the rule of law than to open up the courtroom to the youth of today who will become the leaders of tomorrow.

The theme for 2012 Law Day was “No Courts, No Justice, No Freedom.” Livingston celebrated the day with a mock trial that gave students an opportunity for a hands-on experience of a trial; the State of New Jersey v. Willy Wynn in a case of criminal mischief and/or defiant trespass. The trial originally entitled “The April Fools” was adapted by the Essex Vicinage Law Day 2012 Committee with permission from the New Jersey State Bar Foundation.

Students from Aquinas Academy and Newark Academy joined forces with Judge Bill Williams, Livingston Municipal Prosecutor Michael Berliner, and Livingston Public Defender Marc Garfinkle. Students were assigned roles from assisting the Judge, to bailiff, assistant Prosecuting and Defense attorneys, the accused, witnesses, and jury. “This highly interactive role-play examined the inner workings of the court room and the rule of law,” reported Judge Williams. “The students involved were highly motivated and interested in all aspects of the courtroom experience. Students were prepared and well-versed in the roles they were assigned, and asked very intelligent and probing questions about the presumption of innocence, burden of proof, and reasonable doubt among other things.”

“The student’s efforts and insight into the role of the court and the criminal justice system renewed our confidence in the democratic process and our rule of law,” said Michael Berliner, Prosecutor.  “I was amazed at the passion with which the students approached the process.” Representing Aquinas Academy as acting Judge was Donald Payne, Bailiff was Vikash Dodani, co-counsels were Jack Payne and Katie Aman, and witnesses were Felipe Cambeiro, Sarah Gruesser, Francisco Echaniz, and Michael Robertson, with the rest of the class making up the jury.  “The students did a wonderful job and really enjoyed the educational experience in the courtroom,” said Eileen Banyar, Aquinas Academy Grade 8 Social Studies Teacher. “It was certainly a day to remember.”

Elizabeth Sparacino, Humanities Teacher at Newark Academy agreed, and added that "Students look forward to Law Day because they are able to put their passion and academic skills into action." Marc Garfinkle, Public Defender said, “I think we, as team leaders, might have provoked the students into using more of the facts than they know. The students were enthusiastic and really threw themselves into the trial as counsel, the court, and of course as witnesses, which is something that I love to see. I hope we made a few new lawyers on Law Day.”

For more information on Law Day 2012 go to http://www.americanbar.org, or visit the New Jersey State Bar Foundation website at http://www.njsbf.org/. The Livingston Municipal Court is located at 357 South Livingston Avenue. The court is open for two sessions per week; Wednesdays at 5:00 p.m. with traffic conferences and 6:00 p.m. with traffic trials.  Sessions continue on Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. for first appearances/arraignments and 10:00 a.m. for Public Defender cases and criminal/DWI trials. For more information Tel: (973) 535-7970.