Discovering Justice is proud to announce a new partnership with the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit Court to bring more civic education programs to students in the First Circuit’s jurisdiction, which includes Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Puerto Rico.

One of the cornerstones of the First Circuit’s work is the creation of The Stephen G. Breyer Community Learning Center on Courts and the Constitution. Currently under construction on the 9th Floor in the Moakley Courthouse, the Center will involve teachers and learners throughout the First Circuit to discover firsthand how the judicial system, the courts and the Constitution impact our lives.

Following five in-person and one virtual orientations for 140 volunteer Legal Mentors and Teacher Coordinators, Discovering Justice is excited to be ringing in its 24th year of its Mock Trial Program. With 35 teams, this is the largest set of teams yet, with more than 400 student attorneys being trained from Pittsfield to New Bedford. 

In addition to returning partners that have been with the program for over a decade, we are excited to welcome first-time schools and partners (in bold below).

Thanks go out to our dedicated Mock Trial partners Brockton Public Schools, Committee for Public Counsel Services Worcester, Lowell Public Schools, Jones Day, and Springfield Public Schools who hosted the orientations for Legal Mentors and Teacher Coordinators. More than 150 folks came together with fellow participants in their cities to learn and connect to plan for this semester’s case. Pivoting from the virtual orientations that were introduced at the outset of COVID, these collaborative planning sessions provided teams with the opportunity to brainstorm, troubleshoot, and address the program’s unique needs in each city. In Brockton, District Court Judge Michelle Fentress and in Springfield, U.S District Court Judge Katherine Robertson joined the orientations to speak about their love for the program and the community impact they’ve witnessed over the years.

With the Program well underway, Community Partnership Manager Malia Brooks is making plans for Federal and State judges to visit the teams midway through the program. At this session midway through the Program, students will have the opportunity to learn about the role of a judge and meet with them in a more casual setting prior to their trial date in December.

As part of the Mock Trial final events the weeks of December 11th and 18th, we invite family, caregivers, colleagues, and community members to fill the jury box. If you are interested in volunteering for this fun and engaging 2-hour event, please contact Community Partnerships Manager Malia Brooks at mbrooks@discoveringjustice.org.

Discovering Justice Fall 2023 Mock Trial Teams

Boston

• Blackstone Elementary / Mintz – Lawyers for Civil Rights
• Boston Latin Academy / U.S Attorney’s Office
• Boston Latin School / City of Boston Legal Department
• Brooke Charter School East Boston / Vertex
• Ellis K-6 School / DLA Piper
• Hernández K-8 School / WilmerHale
• Mildred Ave K-8 School / GE – JonesDay
• St. John School / Goodwin – Boston University School of Law

Brookline

• Florida Ruffin Ridley School / Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office
• Runkle School / Attys. Jonathan Simpson, Joshua Dupuy, Patty Correa, & Susan Howards

Cambridge

• Rindge Avenue Upper Campus (RAUC) / Takeda Pharmaceuticals

Medford

• Medford Public Schools / Atty. Kathleen Maloney
• St. Raphael Parish School / Attys. Elise Kopley & Mark Rumley

Waltham

• McDevitt Middle School / Morse, The Law Office of Kevin M. Dwyer, Jr. & Pyle Rome Ehrenberg PC

Framingham

• Cameron Middle School / Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, Dell, & Atty. Joe Shields

Brockton

• North Middle School / Plymouth County Bar Association, Atty. Keith Durden
• East Middle School / Committee for Public Counsel Services – Brockton Children and Family Law Office
• South Middle School / Committee for Public Counsel Services – Brockton
• West Middle School / Plymouth County District Attorney’s Office 

Lowell

• Daley Middle School / Committee for Public Counsel Services – Lowell
• Robinson Middle School / Middlesex District Attorney’s Office 
• Stoklosa Middle School / Freitas & Freitas LLP
• Sullivan Middle School /Attys. Karen Sheehan, Atty. Jomarie Buckley, & Atty. Ryan Sullivan

New Bedford

• Normandin Middle School / UMass Law School

Pittsfield

• Reid Middle School / Atty. Jennifer Carpenter, Atty. Miriam Maduro, & Atty. Ryan Cummins

Providence

• Nathan Bishop Middle School / U.S Attorney’s Office Rhode Island 

Springfield

• • Duggan Academy / MassMutual & Western New England School of Law 
  • Renaissance School / Committee for Public Counsel Services Springfield Youth Advocacy Division 
  • South End Middle School / Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office Western Mass
  • STEM Middle School / Hampden County Lawyers for Justice
• Roger L. Putnam Vocational-Technical Academy

West Springfield

• West Springfield Middle School / Central West Justice Center

South Hadley

• Pioneer Valley Performing Arts / Bulkley Richardson

Worcester

• Forest Grove Middle School / Committee for Public Counsel Services, Worcester
• Sullivan Middle School / Worcester County Bar Association

More than 100 Grade K-3 teachers across seven school districts are participating in Discovering Justice-led Professional Learning Cohorts as they implement the innovative Children Discovering Justice (CDJ) lessons in their classrooms.

“The Cohort model is a great way for teachers to collaborate and problem solve with colleagues who are also prioritizing civics and social studies instructional time in their classrooms” said Education Program Director, Laura Brenner, who helped develop the updated curriculum. Some of these cohorts bring together educators from across one district, others are school-based cohorts. 

Throughout the school year teachers will meet to unpack, debrief, and plan lessons from Children Discovering Justice, a Massachusetts standards based supplemental civics and social studies curriculum. Led by Brenner, teachers will reflect on challenges, problem solve, and explore and share culturally responsive civic pedagogical practices.

With social studies being one of the most marginalized subjects in elementary classrooms, with limited time for teachers to plan, teach, and receive professional development, these cohorts are extra important to support educators and our students in accomplishing this important work.

“Teaching the Children Discovering Justice curriculum and supporting its implementation district-wide can have a profound impact on my students, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to become informed, active, and responsible citizens in a democratic society,” said Katie Xie, a Third Grade Boston Public School teacher. 

As the Grade K-3 curriculum is being used in more than 25 school districts, Discovering Justice is also developing a Grade 4 curriculum in which students will explore regions of the U.S., geography, and map skills and focus on present and past justice advocates across the nation.

In addition to running this year-long cohorts, Discovering Justice provides professional development to districts and schools interested in implementing the free Children Discovering Justice curriculum. To learn more about CDJ, visit our website here. To inquire about professional development for your school or district, contact Laura Brenner at lbrenner@discoveringjustice.org.

On October 5th, the Massachusetts Senate voted to override Governor Healey’s veto of the Civics Project Trust Fund. 

This vote, coupled with the Massachusetts’ House vote the week before, officially reconfirms the Commonwealth’s investment in civic education for the upcoming school year. The FY24 budget increased the Civics Project Trust Fund by 25% to $2,500,000.

“This victory is a testament to the widespread support and importance of civic education for our students,” said Discovering Justice Executive Director Matt Wilson, who is the Advocacy Chair of the Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition, a group of 40+ civic education organizations and supporters in the Commonwealth.

In July, the Legislature voted to increase funding to the Trust Fund by $500,000 for the second year in a row. The increase this year was vetoed by Governor Healey who proposed a $500,000 cut to the Trust Fund. You can read more about the override vote in this CommonWealth Magazine article.

The override restores funding for civic education and will support:

• An increased number of local grants for school districts to support civic education 
• Professional Development for our civics teachers through the Professional Learning Pathways Program 
• Development of “Investigating History,” civics curriculum for Grades 3 and 4
• Civic Showcases to highlight the projects of 8th graders and high school students

Discovering Justice currently works with the Boston, Chelsea, Dennis-Yarmouth, Hopkinton, Springfield, and West Springfield school districts, all which have received funds from the Civics Project Trust Fund. 

Thanks to all the Discovering Justice supporters who sent notes to their Senators and Representatives encouraging their support for civic education.

Educate Youth About the Judicial System

Meet with middle school student attorneys weekly to examine the workings of the judicial system, explore the ideals of justice, and prepare them to argue a case before a real judge, a jury, or appellate panel in a courthouse at the end of the semester. We have a high need for volunteers in Brockton, Framingham, Lowell, Medford, and Springfield.

• Position: Legal Mentor
• Time Commitment: 11 weeks, 90 min/week, 1x/week
• Experience: Legal background and/or JD preferred, but not required
• Training : Discovering Justice provides a 2-hour orientation and curriculum including lesson plans, corresponding slide decks, case materials, and teaching tools
• Contact: Mock Trial & Mock Appeal Programs Manager Kiley Hartman: khartman@discoveringjustice.org

Explore History, Architecture, and Justice

Guide community organizations, college students, and interested members of the public on a one-hour tour of the John Joseph Moakley U.S Courthouse. Highlight the workings of the courthouse and how the architecture and art reflect the aspirations and challenges of justice and our democracy.

• Position: Tour Guide
• Time Commitment: 1-2 weekdays/month between 9:00 am-4 pm, 60-minute tours, as needed
• Experience: No experience necessary
• Training: Orientation from Courthouse Programs Manger, tour shadowing
• Contact: Courthouse Programs Manager Emily Dall’Orso: edallorso@discoveringjustice.org

Guide Grades K-12 students through a field trip in the John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse. Volunteers will interact with students and facilitate engaging activities and discussions around justice. Every field trip includes a courthouse tour and one additional activity of your choice. The additional activities for students are either meeting with a judge, courtroom activity about justice, or observing court proceedings. Therefore, this person must be able to stay the whole 90 minutes and support these activities. Lastly, volunteers may be asked to help during lunchtime in addition to supporting getting students through security.

• Position: Field Trip Volunteer
• Time Commitment: 1-2 weekdays/week between 9:30 am-4 pm, 90 minutes
• Experience: Interest and background working with students preferred
• Training: Orientation from Courthouse Programs Manager, field trip shadowing
• Contact: fieldtrips@discoveringjustice.org

Inspire Students to Advocate for Change

Tell your story of advocacy that will inspire young students participating in our Children Discovering Justice elementary civics curriculum to take action on issues that matter to them.

• Time Commitment: 30-minute Zoom interview
• Experience: Experience participating in local activism and advocacy, such as movements, campaigns, protests, etc. (Ages 6-26 preferred)
• Process: We will share all videos for approval before use and credit you in our curriculum
• Contact: K-5 Curriculum Developer Victoria Suri (for spring/summer 2024, please CC Comms Senior Associate Emily Duggan): vsuri@discoveringjustice.org & eduggan@discoveringjustice.org