Kids get a glimpse of working life at New Jersey courthouse

MOUNT HOLLY » Bob Parr and Lucius Best were handcuffed to cheers from an audience of more than 100 children Thursday inside the Burlington County Superior Court courthouse.

The duo, better known as Mr. Incredible and Frozone, respectively, had just been found guilty of exertion of super powers and criminal mischief for freezing a Metroville police officer following their otherwise heroic rescue of seven people from the burning Pizza Palace on Dec. 12, 2018.

The trial, of course, was not real — it was part of the Burlington County Superior Court’s “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work” Day.

The annual event has been organized by Donna Mazzanti, of the court’s trial administrator’s office, for the past 14 years.

“It’s certainly about education today,” Mazzanti said, who will be retiring in June. “The biggest thing is that we emphasize that it’s never too early to start thinking about what they want to do some day, and to start utilizing the skills that they’ve already learned in school.”

Children ages 8 to 14 who come to work with by employees of the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, the Burlington Sheriff’s Department and other county departments attend the daylong program. Many come back year after year, Mazzanti said, meaning she has to make sure to switch the day’s programming up to keep it fresh every year.

On Thursday, children learned about fire safety from the Burlington County Fire Marshal’s Office, enjoyed a K-9 demonstration from Sheriff’s Officer Jill Gianni and her partner Niko, and learned how to avoid getting abducted by strangers and how to handle bullying from Detective Michael Lynch of the sheriff’s department. They also spent time with their parents as they worked in the courthouse or county administration building.

The main event of the day, however, is a mock trial scripted and performed by the law clerks of the Burlington County Superior Court. Children volunteer to play the role of judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, court clerk, prosecutor, sheriff and juror alongside the law clerks and other court staff.

“We always have the kids learn the roles and responsibilities in the courtroom,” Mazzanti said. “So they can understand what they’re supposed to do in a courtroom.”

Burlington County Superior Court Trial Administrator Jude Del Preore has volunteered to play the role of judge for nearly every year.