2016 MENTOR Law Firm/School Partnership Kick-Off Luncheon

September 28, 2016 – The Justice Resource Center organized the 32nd Annual MENTOR Kick-Off on Tuesday September 28, hosted by Fordham Law School. The luncheon is an opportunity for MENTOR teachers and attorneys across the citywide “Law Cluster” to meet, discuss updates for the coming year, and receive the official materials for the 2016 Moot Court competition. Continue reading “2016 MENTOR Law Firm/School Partnership Kick-Off Luncheon”

James Madison Legacy Project Teachers’ Summer Institute

July 8, 2016 –   Middle and High school teachers from NYC and Albany attended a five day professional development summer institute at the Thurgood Marshall Courthouse. As part of a US Dept. of Ed’s James Madison Legacy grant, teachers participated in outstanding sessions facilitated by scholars ( federal judges and law professors) based on the civic education materials, “We The People: The Citizen & The Constitution.” Teachers were assigned expert “We The People” Mentors to assist with implementation of a mock court hearing.

Federal judges and law professors presented  topics on the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.  The judges included: Honorable  Reena Raggi & Gerad E. Lynch of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Judge Lewis A. Kaplan of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of N.Y , Judge Paul Oetken, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of N.Y. , Judge Joseph Bianco of the U.S. District for the Southern District of N.Y. and Magistrate Judge James Francis IV. The law Professors included: Chris Riano of Columbia University,  Jeffrey Morris of Touro Law School,  Steve Gilles & Martin Margulies of Quinnipiac Law School ,Myriam Gilles & Julie C. Suk of Cardozo Law School  , Aaron Saiger & Benjamin Zipursky of Fordham Law School  and Emily Gold Waldman of Pace Law School .  Judges  D’Agostino, Moses, Peck, Trust, Maas and Stewart presided over a mock court hearing on the final day. All of this was made possible by Chief Judge Robert Katzmann.

Students Debate Cyber Topics at Computer Forensics-Cyber Security Symposium

June 13, 2016 – On May 13, over 100 high school students from William Cullen Bryant HS, School for Legal Studies, Murry Bergtraum HS and Transit Technical HS came to Pace University for the annual Computer Forensics-Cyber Security Symposium. This year’s student debate covered current and controversial cyber topics, including cellphone monitoring, the NSA and Edward Snowden, and the Apple v. FBI case. Students presented their arguments to the expert judges’ panel, and answered judges’ questions.

William Cullen Bryant HS students answer judges' questions after presenting their debate topic arguments.
William Cullen Bryant HS students answer judges’ questions after presenting their debate topic arguments.

Continue reading “Students Debate Cyber Topics at Computer Forensics-Cyber Security Symposium”

NYC HS Mock Trial Final: Congratulations to High School of American Studies at Lehman College!

April 22, 2016 – Congratulations to High School of American Studies at Lehman College for their victory in the NYC High School Mock Trial Final Round! The team competed against Tottenville High School in the Southern District of New York (SDNY) Ceremonial Courtroom on April 18 with SDNY federal judge Honorable Torres presiding. Several participating schools, attorneys and educators came to watch as finalists gave their arguments. Many thanks to all participants this year!

High School of American Studies at Lehman College with SDNY Judge Analisa Torres celebrate their NYC Mock Trial win.
High School of American Studies at Lehman College with SDNY Judge Analisa Torres celebrate their NYC Mock Trial win.

This spring, 82 high school teams from all five boroughs competed during preliminary rounds at the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse, Brooklyn Federal Courthouse and Queens Supreme Court. Students took on the roles of prosecutors, defense, and witnesses in the case The People v. Kelly Roberts, written by the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA).  Students were coached by their Law Academy teachers and MENTOR attorneys. Attorneys and federal judges volunteered to judge the rounds.

NYSBA logo

The two finalist teams will compete at the NY State Mock Trial rounds in Albany, NY, from May 15-17th, 2016. Go NYC!

Tottenville HS, NYC Mock Trial Finalist, will be competing at the state rounds in Albany, NY.
Tottenville High School, NYC Mock Trial Finalist, will be competing at the state rounds in Albany, NY.