Linda Harris RECOGNIZED – Jefferson County Bar Association’s 2026 Community Legal Service Award was presented to Connie Coss, who’s served the legal community for more than 40 decades. Pictured, from left, are longtime boss, Joe Corabi, a former juvenile and probate judge; Coss; Juvenile and Probate Judge Frank Noble, for whom she’s worked the past six years, and David Scarpone, Law Day Committee chair and county court judge.

STEUBENVILLE — It’s a case literally ripped from the headlines, one that revolves around hot-button issues like consent, privacy and cutting-edge genealogy techniques — except it wasn’t real.

Nearly 40 students from four area schools — Edison, Harrison Central, Catholic Central and Steubenville High School — converged on the Jefferson County Justice Center recently for mock trial, a case simulation developed by the Ohio Center for Law-Related Education. The program allows students exploring career paths to get a taste of litigation while building critical thinking and public speaking skills they can use in any profession.

In mock trial, students take on the roles of prosecutors, defense attorneys and witnesses. This year’s case combined a preliminary hearing scenario involving forensic science, genetic genealogy and Fourth Amendment issues, according to OCLRE.

Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney Jane Hanlin and Dillonvale County Court Judge David Scarpone worked with the Big Red team, while attorneys Aaron Richardson advised Edison; Matthew Puskarich, Harrison Central; and Courtney Kissinger and Michelle Gorman, Catholic Central.

Hanlin also served as one of three judges presiding over the first trial, which matched Edison against Harrison Central. Joining her on the bench were Common Pleas Judge Michelle Miller and Wintersville County Court Judge Michael Bednar.

Presiding over Trial 2, featuring Steubenville and Catholic Central, were Judge Katelyn Dickey of the 7th District Court of Appeals, Toronto County Court Judge Lisa Ferguson and Magistrate Maresa B. Taylor.

Hanlin said all four teams were focused and well prepared.

“When they didn’t win an objection, they did an excellent job of pivoting and just moving forward with their argument,” she said, adding they “demonstrated maturity far beyond their years. They had obviously spent countless hours preparing the case. They looked and sounded like professional lawyers and their advisors should be so proud of them.”

Miller said having an appellate judge at the event “tells you how important it is.”

“You can put it into context at this day and age, with democracy — an intelligent and informed body politic is the crux of democracy and these students are learning it firsthand,” she said. “It teaches them analytical reasoning, not to mention constitutional protections and the rule of law.”

The Jefferson County Bar Association served as local sponsor — with members saying the program helps introduce students to potential careers in law.

Dickey said the event provides “crucial information for students, and especially in the rural counties of our 7th District, anything that we can do to bring interest to the legal field for students is something that’s well worth our time.”

“Here in Jefferson County, the Appellate District is doing what we can to bring a good image of the judiciary back to the students so they can see firsthand the important things that we do and how our justice system works,” Dickey said.

The event also featured the presentation of the Community Legal Service Award to Connie Coss, who served the legal community for 41 years — the last six with Juvenile and Probate Judge Frank Noble. Prior to that, she worked with attorney and retired Juvenile and Probate Judge Joe Corabi for 35 years.

The bar association said Coss “exemplified professionalism, integrity and a deep respect for the rule of law and an unwavering service to the community” throughout her career.

Also serving as attorney advisors were:

— Edison: Aaron Richardson

— Harrison Central: Matthew Puskarich

— Catholic Central: Courtney Kissinger and Michelle Gorman

Students participating were:

— Edison: Amelia Ault, Bella Cronin, Benjamin Griffith, Dominic Grim, Justin Goddard, Lauren Watters, Lilyanne Hall, Mason Johnston, Michelle Davis and Shalynn Keefer. Overseeing the team’s preparations was David Schultz, teacher.

— Harrison Central: Ben Giffin, Derrick Rogers, Justin Scott, Kamari West, Logan Milliken and Shelby Dannehl. Overseeing the team’s preparations was Samantha McIntosh, teacher.

— Steubenville Catholic Central: Eva Urbanczyk, Joseph Poulin, Jude Tsohantaridis, Katherine Moore, Maria Gessler, Maria Kissinger, Mitchell Terry, Sophia Leonard, Therese Beaulieu and Zoe Clum. Overseeing the team’s preparations was Martina Erste, teacher.

— Steubenville High School: Addie Johnson, Adrianna Crabtree, Andrew Matzorkis, Brody Becker, Clara Hoffman, Gigi Roderique, Hannah Martin, Isabella Fletcher, Kaydance Ortiz, Riley Zorne and Stella Schiappa. Overseeing the team’s preparations was Cherie Metcalf, teacher.