SOUTH BRUNSWICK – A local high school will compete in the regional final of the Mock Trial Competition.
The New Jersey State Bar Foundation provides a case to high schools at the beginning of each school year. The team has several months to analyze the case from the perspective of both the plaintiff and the defense, with the assistance of teacher advisors and attorney coaches. The students then play the roles of both attorneys and witnesses.
This year’s case was a civil defamation suit. From Jan. 30 to Feb. 1, four rounds of intense trials included two preliminary rounds, followed by a semifinal, after which the two winning teams advanced to finals.
Noor-Ul-Iman School of South Brunswick and West Windsor High-Plainsboro High School North went head-to-head in the final county championship. After an intense trial, Noor-Ul-Iman emerged as the winner and advanced to the regional competition.
On Feb. 7, Noor-Ul-Iman won two trials at the regional semifinals held at the New Jersey Law Center in New Brunswick.
In the first round, Noor-Ul-Iman’s team competed against Colts Neck High School and won with the plaintiff side. The Monmouth Junction school again competed in a second round with the plaintiff side, winning against Princeton Day School’s defense.
Next, Noor-Ul-Iman students will compete in the regional final on Feb. 28 at the New Jersey Law Center.
The Noor-Ul-Iman School team is coached by Suzy Ismail, the attorney coach is Jenee Ciccarelli, and the alumni assistants are Noor Rostoum and Aysha Azmat. The team captains are Meryem Turan and Isra Thange.
Students Meryem Turan, Faizan Ahmed, Zeynab Kwara, Jannah Rostoum and Layla Sakr argue for the plaintiff. On the defense side are Isra Thange, Uthman Qureshi, Maryam Mairaj, Aya Mansour and Alyan Usmani. The team backups are Nora Asker, Ranya Essafi, Hana Memon, Safiyyah Mosaad and Afraah Shaikh,
“At a time when many Muslim youth are questioning their identities and the role they play in government and society at large, it is crucial that we continue to promote opportunities and avenues that empower our high school students and help them better understand the importance of civic engagement,” Ismail said. “I am so proud of these students who have put in so many long hours learning the law, practicing their speaking skills and honing their ability to form sound arguments in order to excel in mock trial. These high school students really do define what it means to be hard-working, dedicated and committed to ensuring that their voices are heard. It is through activities like mock trial that we are building the next generation of American leaders.”
