After a five-year hiatus, 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, Palmerton, and Weatherly high schools participated in the program held in Courtroom 1.

The program consisted of remarks by Carbon County President Judge Honorable Roger N. Nanovic and Honorable Judge Joseph J. Matika. The students also viewed a jury orientation video.

The program featured a mock civil trial conducted by mock trial teams from Jim Thorpe and Palmerton high schools. The case was a criminal matter in which a business owner was accused of first degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder of another competing business owner.

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 William J. Kissner of Palmerton presided over the mock trial.

Seniors Maddie Everett, Joshua Rehatchek, and TJ Taglieri served as “attorneys” for the Palmerton High School Mock Trail Team.

Afterward, Everett said she thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

“It’s nice to be in a large courtroom,” Everett said. “I think both teams learned a lot.”

Junior Kaylee Tate, along with sophomores Gabriella Cerra and Gretchen Cox served as “attorneys” for the Jim Thorpe High School Mock Trial Team.

Tate said that while her team wasn’t quite as experienced, it was still a rewarding event.

“This was my first year as an attorney (as a member of the Jim Thorpe High School Mock Trial Team),” Tate said. “It was a good experience.”

There were a total of 11 jurors (10 plus one alternate): Adam Sebelin, Alexander Sebelin, Cody Shellhammer, and Carter Hontz from Lehighton High School; Ava Bongo, Olivia Gordon, and Alex Saas from Palmerton High School; Jason Lilly and Joseph Sauers from Jim Thorpe High School, and Connor McAuly and Evan Miller from Weatherly 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 Brian Gazo, chancellor; Jason Rapa, first vice chancellor; Angela Stehle, second vice chancellor; Adam Weaver, treasurer; Kara Beck, secretary; and Sheri A. Ryan, executive director.