The Carbon County Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division, held its Law Day program on Thursday at the courthouse in Jim Thorpe.

Students from Jim Thorpe, Lehighton, Marian Catholic, Panther Valley and Weatherly high schools participated in the program held in Courtroom 1.

The program included remarks by Carbon County Honorable Judge Steven R. Serfass and Honorable Judge Joseph J. Matika. The students also viewed a jury training video.

The program featured a mock civil trial conducted by mock trial teams from Marian Catholic and Jim Thorpe high schools. The case was a criminal matter in which a woman was accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars in jewelry.

As part of the trial, witnesses were called and questioned, followed by cross-examination by members of the two participating teams. A jury panel of students were selected from among the high schools who attended the program.

After deliberation, the jury found the defendant not guilty. District judges Eric M. Schrantz of Jim Thorpe, and Beth A. Dodson of Lansford, presided over the mock trial.

Senior Evan Rosenbrook and juniors KaylaAnn Kandy and junior Gabriella Cerra served as “attorneys” for the Jim Thorpe High School Mock Trial Team.

Afterward, Rosenbrook said, “It was a great event to showcase what law really is.”

Cerra added that “It was a wonderful educational opportunity” offered by the county.

Seniors Isaac Careyva and Eli Careyva, along with sophomore Zoe Johnstone served as “attorneys” for the Marian Catholic High School Mock Trial Team.

Isaac Careyva said it was “a very fun event that showed you the inner-workings of court even more than Mock Trial.”

Junior Octavia Zito, who served as a witness for the defense team, added “It’s definitely cool to have more of an audience this time than other competitions.”

There were a total of 12 jurors (10 plus two alternates): Lawrence Ader and James Gomez from Marian Catholic High School; Cameron Potts and Tristan Mauricio from Lehighton Area High School; Raymond Montz and Mackenzie Rhodes from Weatherly Area High School; Gretchen Cox and Maxwell Priore of Jim Thorpe High School; Layla Fatzie and Emily Vallderruten of Panther Valley High School; and Olivia Dudeck (alternate) of Marian Catholic High School, and Dreshawn Ervine (alternate) of Panther Valley High School.

The committee from the young lawyers division who were in charge of the program were Matthew Schnell and Matthew Motolla.

The bar association is headed by Jason Rapa, chancellor; Angela Stehle, first vice chancellor; Jane Zellner, second vice chancellor; Kelly Jamison, treasurer; Kara Beck, secretary; and Sheri A. Ryan, executive director.