Spring and Summer in the So. District of California

Despite the school year winding down, April - August were still busy with community outreach programs in the Southern District of California.  23 different programs were held in those 5 months alone! Mock trials, jobs panels, CARE presentations, Marshals' presentations, Power Lunches and courtroom observations were all offered to give students in grades 3 - college an opportunity to learn more about the third branch of government.  Additionally, 25 teachers came for a professional development event. Many judges participated, allowing us to offer the variety and volume of programs need to engage and educate the nearly 1000 students visiting the court during that time period. The new school year offers more opportunities to engage students in civics. and we look forward eagerly to sharing our love of the law with the next 1000 students heading to the court this fall!

 

California Central Hosts Several Public Outreach Events

April was a busy month at the bankruptcy court in the Central District of California.  In early April, the court hosted a mock hearing and reception for the inaugural class of Loyola Law School Consumer Bankruptcy Litigation Practicum (CBLP).

From left: Daniel Pouldar, Thomas Ramirez, Alistair Gesmundo, 

Jamie Lopez, Judge Sandra R. Klein, Professor Anne Wells, 

W. Sloan Youkstetter, Christian Cooper

On April 20, 2015, after years in fairy-tale land, the infamous three bears finally got their day in court. In a mock trial orchestrated by Chief Judge Sheri Bluebond with the assistance of Judge Julia W. Brand and the Los Angeles Division staff, a group of nervously giddy fourth graders brought the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears to trial. Judge Bluebond got the idea to host a mock trial from Judge Tighe, who has hosted several over the years. She realized that fourth grade would be a good age and offered the opportunity to her children’s elementary school.  

Chief Judge Sheri Bluebond with student judge Gwendolyn Smith and classmates after the mock trial of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Chief Judge Sheri Bluebond with student judge Geoffrey Smith and classmates after the mock trial of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  Judge Brand is standing on the right.

 
 

Law Day Celebration

Last but not least on April 24, 2015, the court hosted a Law Day celebration for more than 90 high school students who are members of Junior State of America (JSA), a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for students interested in politics, government, foreign affairs, and the law. The morning events consisted of a Jobs Panel and a financial literacy presentation.  At noon, the students enjoyed Power Lunch with judges, attorneys and other professionals which ended in a lively game of Legal Jeopardy complete with candy for those who correctly answered the questions.  

Jobs Panel Participants

Answering Jeopardy questions!

Professor Laurie L. Levenson

Student Judge Julia Sandoval and District Judge John A. Kronstadt preside over mock trial

Seated left to right Bankruptcy Judge Martin R. Barash, Conrad M. Graber, Magistrate Judge Michale R. Wilner, Bankruptcy Judge Sandra R. Klein, Bankruptcy Judge Barry Russell, Bankruptcy Judge Julia W. Brand, Chief Magistrate Judge Suzanne H. Segal, and Bankruptcy Clerk of Court Kathleen Campbell.

 

A variety of ways to provide civics education

The first quarter of 2015 has been jam packed with opportunities for fun and education in the Southern District of California. 14 events were offered to 1040 students between January and March. These events included mock trials, courtroom observations, jobs panels, CARE presentations, marshals presentations and the 9th annual Open Doors to the Court event. Since a picture is worth a thousand words, we'll just post a few photos that reflect the variety of activities students participated in.


Students from Moscow, Russia pose with District Judge Anthony Battaglia



Magistrate Judge Barbara Major gives the "Readers Oath" to elementary school students to be life long readers on Literacy Day.



Magistrate Judge William Gallo confers with his student judge as to the proper sentence for Goldilocks.

 

District Judge Dana Sabraw and Magistrate Judge Karen Crawford participate in a reenactment of Wards Cove Packing Co v. Antonio presented by the Pan Asian Lawyers of San Diego 

District Judge Cathy Ann Bencivengo poses with 4th grade students who participated in a mock trial

 

Deputry Marshal Joanne Boyd and her partner, Ella teach students how canines find explosives.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February in the Southern District of California

The Southern District of California has been very busy in the Community Outreach Department in February. Besides Judge Miller's and Judge Major's presentations which were previously reported, CASD judges presented on 3 other occasions. 

On February 21, 2014, Magistrate Judge William Gallo presided over a mock trial of 2 students accused of selling fireworks at the District Court.  4th grade students from a local elementary school took on all the roles. The prosecutors were assisted by AUSA Jill Burkhardt and defense counsel were assisted by Sandra Hourani of Federal Defenders of San Diego.  After finding the 2 defendants guilty, the students learned about the U.S. Marshals service and got to meet our bomb sniffing canine and her handler, Deputy Marshal Joanne Boyd. The students, teacher and parent chaperones were very impressed with the presentation indicating that it exceeded their expectations.  The teacher thanked the courts for  "supporting civics education in public schools, especially at the elementary level."


On February 25, 2014, District Judge John Houston traveled to a local middle school and talked to 100 eighth grade students about the federal courts and how a case travels through the court system to the U.S. Supreme Court.  These students had recently studied the U.S. Constitution and had the opportunity to ask Judge Houston general questions about the courts, as well as questions about specific cases over which he had presided. 



Then, on February 26, 2014, U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Margaret Mann visited a local high school to talk about her career and the path she took to become a bankruptcy judge. A panel of students asked Judge Mann questions about the bankruptcy process and Judge Mann explained the risks and benefits of  taking out student loans to pay for college.  The students and Judge Mann discussed the various types of bankruptcy filings and statistics on the most prevalent issues being litigated in US Bankrutcy Courts.

Taking the Courtroom to the Classroom

On February 10, 2014, United States Magistrate Judge Barbara Major of the U.S. District for the Southern District of California visited a 4th grade classroom in San Diego. She presided over the mock trial of the People of the Forest v. Goldilocks. Students took on all the speaking roles, including that of judge, and also served as jurors. The students debated whether an invitation from Mama Bear to "Come back any time" included entering the property when no one was home. They discussed with whom the responsibility for breaking a chair lies if the chair is in a weakened condition, and they also discussed whether it is appropriate to eat someone else's breakfast if no one else appears to be eating it.  These youngsters impressed Judge Major with their reading ability and the way they grasped the issues presented. At the end of the event, they had the opportunity to try on Judge Major's robe and received gavel pencils as a reminder of their day "in court."

Central District of California Welcomes Student Groups

As the school year winds down and the summer break approaches, May is typically a busy month for educational outreach activities at the United States District Court for the Central District of California.  Several judges in the Western Division welcomed students from local area schools for mock trials and educational programs in May, including the following:  

On May 15, approximately 50 third-grade students and two teachers from Wilmington Park Elementary School visited the Spring Street Courthouse for a discussion with Senior District Judge Terry J. Hatter, Jr., and a presentation by the U.S. Marshals Service in Judge Hatter’s courtroom.  The students also visited Judge Hatter’s chambers.

 

On May 17, approximately 25 fifth-graders from Utah Street Elementary School visited the Spring Street Courthouse for a mock trial presided over by District Judge S. James Otero in his courtroom.  The mock trial served as the culmination of a year-long course on the criminal justice system presented by the Office of the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California.  After the mock trial, U.S. Attorney André Birotte, Jr., congratulated the students and presented them with their graduation certificates.  U.S. Attorney Birotte and several assistant U.S. attorneys who taught the course also spoke to the students about the benefits of an education and careers in the law and law enforcement over a pizza lunch at the U.S. attorney’s office.

On May 22, approximately two dozen 12th graders from Inglewood High School visited the Spring Street Courthouse as part of a new “We the Students” program sponsored by DLA Piper.  The event was hosted by Senior District Judge Consuelo B. Marshall in her courtroom, and District Judge Philip S. Gutierrez, U.S. Attorney André Birotte, Jr., and former U.S. Marshal and Inglewood High School alumnus Tony Perez spoke to the students about their respective career paths.  Following a visit to Judge Marshall’s chambers and a demonstration by her court recorder, the students who won a related essay contest read their winning essays and received their awards.

On May 23, a class of third-grade students from Mount Washington Elementary School visited the Spring Street Courthouse to participate in a mock trial presided over by Magistrate Judge Patrick J. Walsh.  After the mock trial, the students were treated to a pizza lunch by Judge Walsh.

Jury hung over whether teen texting was grossly negligent

On May 31, 2013, United States Bankruptcy Judge Margaret Mann hosted 30 high school students for a mock trial to determine whether an 18 year old was guilty of gross negligence of the death of a fellow passenger killed during an automobile accident after sending a text. Judge Mann was assisted by Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Scholpler and Federal Defender Bridget Kennedy.  After the mock trial, the students had an opportunity to learn about the various careers associated with the federal courts.

Big Bad Wolf Not Liable for Pigs' Losses

A mock jury, comprised of third grade students in the Southern District of California, found the Big Bad Wolf was not liable for damages caused when he sneezed, causing two houses, owned by plaintiffs Curly and Wurly Pig, to fall apart.  Wolf argued that his allergies were the problem and he did not intend to injure the pigs in any manner.  The Pigs' assertions that he intentionally huffed and puffed and blew their homes down did not persuade the jurors.  United States District Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel presided over the mock trial.  Assistant United States Attorney Dan Butcher and Federal Defender Deke Falls also participated in the mock trial.  The 8- and 9-year-old students played all the roles and deliberated the facts diligently before reaching their verdict.  After the trial, the students had the opportunity to step into a holding cell, try on a bullet proof vest and watch a demonstration by the U.S. Marshals Service's explosive-detecting canine.

Mock Jury Determines Wicked Stepmother Owes Cinderella Back Wages

Bankruptcy Judge Christopher S. Latham hosted 65 students in the Southern District of California for a civil mock trial to determine if Zelda Tremaine, aka the wicked stepmother, owed Princess Ella, more commonly referred to as "Cinder"ella, back wages for the years of services rendered to her "wicked stepmother and stepsisters."  The 5th grade students took on all the roles for the mock trial and then four separate juries deliberated the merits of the case. After completion of the mock trial, deputy U.S. marshals gave the students a glimpse into the life of a federal law enforcement officer.  Finally, the students watched a demonstration by two explosives detecting canines and their handlers.  One teacher commented that she really felt that this experience created a spark in some of her students that could last a lifetime.

U. S. District Court for the Southern District of California Invites 4 Graders to Participate in a Mock Trial

On May 3, 2013, Senior District Judge Irma Gonzalez welcomed 34 fourth grade students and some parents to the United States Disrict Court for the Southern District of California to participate in a mock trial involving two students accused of possessing fireworks with the intent to distribute.  Assistant United States Attorney Jill Burkhardt and Leila Morgan of Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc., assisted Judge Gonzalez with the presentation. The students, ages 9-10, took on all the roles inculding judge and jury, defendants, attorneys and witnesses.  They engaged in the mock trial very seriously and acted out their respective roles enthusiastically.  Observers were particularly impressed by the way the students approached deliberations and discussed and debated the merits of the facts presented during the mock trial.

Student Mock Trial Hosted for Eighth Grade Students in Southern District of California

On March 27, 2013, the Southern District of California welcomed 100 eighth grade students to the court. District Judges Dana M. Sabraw and Cathy Bencivengo, and Magistrate Judge David H. Bartick presided over scripted mock trials for the students during which the students took on all the roles and deliberated on a verdict. Throughout the mock trials, the judges took opportunities to teach the students the meaning and purpose of various aspects of a trial. After reaching a verdict and "sentencing" their defendants, the students met with a deputy U.S. marshal and had an opportunity to learn about the U.S. Marshals Service, observe a demonstation by an explosives detecting canine and to try on a deputy's gear.

Judge Curiel of the Southern District of California presides over mock trial

Honorable Gonzalo Curiel with "student judge"

Students learn about trials



On January 9, 2013, District Judge Gonzalo Curiel of the Southern District of California hosted 20 high school students for a mock trial about the hazards of texting while driving. The students took on the roles of all the participants in the trial including judge, attorneys, witnesses and jurors.