Law Day Draws Many High School Students to Federal Courthouse in Los Angeles

Chief Magistrate Judge Stephen Hillman (right) talks to a visiting student and Deputy Federal Public Defender Firdaus Dordi during Law Day 2008 program.

Some 840 high school students from 16 different public high schools in Los Angeles County helped celebrate Law Day at the U.S. District Court of the Central District of California over a four-day period in late April.

Each program featured a scripted mock trial presided over by a judge. All students participated, either in speaking roles as judge, public defender, prosecutor, courtroom clerk and court security officer, or as jurors. Those with speaking roles had real-life counterparts close by.

After each mock jury rendered its verdict, the students heard from a federal judge on the theme of Law Day 2008, which was The Rule of Law: Foundation for Communities of Opportunity and Equity.