Westfield High School Students Hold Virtual Mock Trial

WESTFIELD, NJ — To celebrate Law Day on May 1, Westfield High School social studies teacher Kimberly Leegan coordinated a virtual program for students in Introduction to Law, Mock Trial, and AP Government and Politics classes.

Westfield Municipal Judge Parag Patel led a presentation on May 4 and 5 that included attorney and former Westfield public defender Robert Bohrod and Middlesex County Assistant Prosecutor Bina Desai.

Judge Patel presided over a mock trial with the fictitious case of an honorably-discharged disabled veteran who is arrested after crashing the car he is driving into a tree.

The students in Enrico Basso, Daniel Farabaugh and Ms.Leegan’s classes were assigned as prosecutors, defense attorneys, police officers, witnesses, and other roles as they worked through details in the fictitious mock trial case.

The virtual mock trial isn't all that has changed in schools to emphasize social distancing amid the spread of coronavirus. Over the weekend, Murphy clamped down on in-public graduation ceremonies, saying they need to be held virtually. On Monday, he clarified and said that "wave parades" and other graduation and birthday celebrations are OK if they respect social distancing.

Murphy also has decided that New Jersey schools will be closed for the rest of the year. After discussing with the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association, the governor said that spring sports will not resume for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. However, Westfield has posted an outdoor display of banners for its spring athletes.

On Sunday, Murphy said that in New Jersey, the number of coronavirus cases has risen to 138,532, and 9,255 people have died.

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