'Trial' Held For Westfield Students

Westfield, NJ -- Order! Order! Order in the courtroom... err the classroom?!

Taking the roles of judge, jury, bailiff, witnesses, plaintiff and defense counsel, Westfield High School students participated in a mock trial as part of Kimberly Leegan’s class.

Leegan a former attorney turned social studies teacher began offering the Mock Trial as a new elective this year.

Students learn about the stages of a civil trial and perform each of those stages in class.

“This project-based class enables students to gain valuable real life experience and to put what they have learned in the classroom in action,” stated Leegan.  “In addition to learning the stages of a civil trial, students also develop public speaking skills, problem solving, and analytical reasoning as they work to either prove or defend their case,” she explained.   

The students were divided up into teams to represent the plaintiff and defendant's sides.

Leegan's husband, Michael Leegan, Esq., a 1988 graduate of Westfield High School, who has practiced law in NJ as a civil defense litigator for 20 years presided over the trial.

(Photo provided:  In the second trial of the day, Samantha Colucci, standing at left, prepared as the attorney for the plaintiff, while Douglas Logan, seated, was cross-examined as a witness for the defense in a simulated personal injury case.)