20 Mar
This spring, 29 middle school teams from 12 cities and towns across Massachusetts have joined Discovering Justice’s Mock Appeal Program. Through expanded district partnerships, that unprecedented number of teams includes four each from Brockton Public Schools and Springfield Public Schools.
Following five orientations this month for new and returning partners, these teams of ‘student attorneys’ began to delve into the complexities of the First Amendment right to freedom of speech and what that looks like in today’s age of social media. Sessions are now in full swing, with volunteer Legal mentors and students connecting in weekly afternoon sessions across the Commonwealth.
Building off precedent, case law, and facts of their case from the Fall Mock Trial Program, students have split into petitioner and respondent student attorney teams. Additionally, teams have begun to meet with judges to prepare for their Final Events.
Mock Appeal Final Events will take place between May 22nd and June 6th at courthouses across the Commonwealth. These events bring together the students’ semester of hard work as they present their cases to panels of judges in front of family and friends.
