Arizona Court and Bar Team Up for Outreach

"If I can do it, you can do it, too!" challenged Judge Mary H. Murguia as she brought to a close another successful CourtWorks program at the Sandra Day O’Connor United States Courthouse in Phoenix.

Judge Murguia, who sits on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, was speaking to eighth-graders from a half-dozen Phoenix area schools who visited the courthouse as part of a program that helps students learn about constitutional principles, the judicial process and careers in the legal field. Her young audience responded with exuberant applause before streaming out into the building’s soaring atrium to have class pictures taken with the judge.

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Arizona Legal Foundation Honors Ninth Circuit Judge

Arizona Legal Foundation Honors Ninth Circuit Judge



Judge Murguia speaking to students



Judge Mary H. Murguia of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit was honored in June by the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education.  She received the foundation's Mark Santana Law-Related Education Award at a June 21 luncheon in Phoenix.  She is the first federal judge to receive the award, which recognizes exceptional contributions by members of the Arizona bench and bar in furthering education and understanding of the role of the law in our democratic society.

Judge Murguia was recognized for her work with the Kids to Court/CourtWorks program, which provides young people with a firsthand look at the courts through a visit to the Sandra Day O'Connor U.S. Courthouse in Phoenix.  Nearly 2,000 youngsters have participated in the program, which includes a mock trial, and presentations by judges, attorneys, court staff and law enforcement officers.

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Chief District Judges Discuss Community Outreach

During a January 12-13, 2011, meeting in San Diego, chief judges of each of the 15 judicial districts in the Ninth Circuit learned about someo f the community outreach programs being used by federal courts. The program featured presentations on Law Week activities in Guam, the CourtWorks! program in Phoenix, Arizona, and an automated speaker bureau system used by the federal court in Seattle.

Judge Janis L. Sammartino of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California attended the meeting as a respresentative of the Ninth Circuit Courts and Community Committee. Judge Sammartino discussed the Courts & Community website and the upcoming publication of a printed newsletter for judges and court staff.

Check out http://community.ca9.uscourts.gov/ for more information, including organizational materials, for the programs mentioned above and others.