MORRISTOWN, N.J. (Morris County) — Morris County officials celebrated Law Day on May 1 by honoring the West Morris Mendham High School mock trial team for its continued success in competition.
The team, which has won the Morris County Mock Trial Competition for 21 consecutive years, was recognized during a ceremony held in Courtroom No. 1 at the Morris County Courthouse. The students also advanced to the New Jersey State Bar Foundation’s Vincent J. Apruzzese High School Mock Trial Competition, where they placed second among 214 teams statewide.
Morris County Commissioner Thomas J. Mastrangelo and Morris County Bar Association President Lawrence S. Cutalo presented certificates to the students on behalf of their respective organizations.
“As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding, it’s worth reflecting on the freedoms we have as Americans — the ability to speak our views and express our minds. While these are freedoms our forefathers fought to secure for every citizen, it is up to every generation to understand, respect and protect those rights, or we risk losing them,” said Commissioner Mastrangelo. “On behalf of the county commissioners, I am proud to congratulate these students on becoming Morris County Mock Trial champions for the 21st consecutive year.”
Team members included Nathan Achaempong, Anthony Khakhiashvili, Cole Smith, Tess Kutlu, Julia Sun, Gemma Hong, Kiersten Rohde, Kira Mandel, Elle Murphy and Zachary Parks. The team was coached by teacher Eric Heditsch and attorney William Connelly.
The program featured remarks from Superior Court Judge James M. DeMarzo and a keynote address by Appellate Division Judge Lorraine M. Augostini, who spoke about the 2026 theme, “The Rule of Law and the American Dream.”
“The American Dream invites us to reflect not only on our nation’s history, but also on our state’s history over the past 250 years,” said Augostini. “As we commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, we should also remember that New Jersey’s first state constitution was ratified two days earlier, on July 2.”
Augostini also shared how her own experience in mock trial helped inspire her legal career and highlighted historical figures who contributed to the nation’s founding.
The ceremony included musical performances by the Mayo Performing Arts Center Performing Arts Company and was attended by members of the legal community and county officials.
Law Day is observed annually on May 1 and was established in 1958 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to recognize the importance of the rule of law in American society.
