The Carbon County Bar Association held its annual Law Day program at the county courthouse in Jim Thorpe on Thursday.

The annual program is held every year on May 1 and conducted by the young lawyers division of the bar association.Students from the county's five public high schools Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Palmerton, Panther Valley and Weatherly attended the program along with students from Marian High School in Schuylkill County. Also attending were students from the Carbon County Vocational Technical Institute. Over 200 students filled courtroom on Thursday.The program included remarks and questions and answers with county President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II and Judges Steven R. Serfass and Joseph J. Matika.Following the session with the judges, the students viewed the county's jury orientation video program, which is presented to all prospective jurors when called to duty.Following that the students took part in a mock trial program which featured students from Marian and Palmerton.The fictional case involved the death of a student at a high school due to drugs in which her family sued the school district for negligence, alleging the environment at the school did not address a drug use problem.Twelve students were selected as jurors to hear the case presented by the Marian and Palmerton mock trial teams. They then deliberated as a jury would and announced a verdict.County district judges Edward M. Lewis, Joseph D Homanko Sr. and William J. Kissner presided over the trial.Attorneys Jason R. Rapa and Adam R. Weaver, of the young lawyers division, co-chaired the program.Attorney Cynthia Dyrda-Hatton is chancellor of the county bar association, with Gregory L. Mousseau, first vice chancellor; Paul J. Levy, second vice chancellor; Jason M. Rapa, treasurer; and Seth Miller, secretary. Sheri A. Ryan is coordinator for the association.The bar association stated in its Law Day program: "Law Day program is an opportunity for all Americans to celebrate and enjoy our freedoms. The jury is the embodiment of democracy. We entrust juries, (small bodies of ordinary men and women) with decisions that involve the liberties and property of defendants. In doing so, we confirm our faith in the ability of the people to make just and wise decisions, and that is the very definition of democracy."