May 31, 2006
On Saturday May 20, 2006, St. John’s University School of Law
was teeming with future lawyers and their families. The
Catholic School Middle Level Mock Trial Program brought together
over 120 students – mostly Seventh and Eighth Graders – to try
their hands at being prosecutors, defense lawyers, and
witnesses. Sixteen teams from nine different Catholic grade
schools on Long Island participated. The program was
sponsored by St. Brigid/Our Lady of Hope Regional School in
Westbury and St. John’s School of Law.
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Gallery
The case the students used involved the prosecution of a High
School senior who was the driver in a fatal car accident. The
witnesses included the defendant, three eyewitnesses, a police
officer, and an accident reconstruction expert. The student
teams had spent weeks preparing their cases and practicing with
attorney coaches and mentors. At the School of Law program on
May 20, the students presented their cases in a realistic setting
with faculty and alumni from the law school serving as
judges.
Professor Michael Simons, Associate Dean for Faculty Scholarship
at the School of Law and one of the co-organizers of the event,
noted that “mock trial programs such as this one provide children
with an invaluable educational opportunity – they learn about our
legal system, develop their analytical and reasoning skills,
practice public speaking, and build up their
self-confidence.”
Professor Simons was also impressed with the students’ level of
preparation and the poise they exhibited in a high-pressure
setting. “These kids may be only twelve or thirteen years
old,” Professor Simons noted, “but they were acting like real trial
lawyers – thinking on their feet, making their arguments with
passion and conviction, and then nervously awaiting the
verdict.”
The judges were also impressed with the students. Kareem
Vessup ’04, himself a mock trial national champion when he attended
St. John’s, said that what made the program so exciting for him was
to see the commitment of everyone involved. “The level of
preparation that the young people displayed,” he said, “far
exceeded my expectations and was truly a reflection of the
dedication of their parents, coaches and teachers.” Another
judge, School of Law Professor Victoria Brown-Douglas, said she was
privileged to witness the “intelligence, skill, hard work and
dedication demonstrated by these students.” The other judges
were Professor Theresa Hughes, Elsa Preston ’91, Gregory Preston
’91, Eon Smith ’03, Eylan Schulman ’04, and Professor Margaret V.
Turano.
The children also seemed to enjoy it. Kyle Doherty, an
Eighth Grader at Our Lady of Victory School in Floral Park, said
that it was “a lot of work to prepare for the mock trial but in the
end it was worth it because I had fun.” He added that giving
his summation was “scary and exciting at the same time.”
Emmanuel Polycarpe, a Seventh Grader at St. Brigid/Our Lady of Hope
said “it was awesome because I actually got to find out what it’s
like to be a lawyer.”
Paul Clagnaz, the Principal at St. Brigid/Our Lady of Hope and
the other co-organizer of the event, commended St. John’s for
hosting the program. “Everyone associated with St. John's
University was welcoming and accommodating,” he said. “There
were over 400 students and guests, and we couldn't have asked for a
better reception and a more rewarding experience.” Mr.
Clagnaz also praised the partnership between the grade schools and
the University as a “model” for the kind of “innovative” programs
that can immeasurably enrich Catholic education.
This kind of program, Professor Simons noted, is an important
part of the University’s Vincentian mission. “St. John’s is
committed to opening up the pipeline to law school for students who
might not otherwise be exposed to these opportunities,” he
said. Other School of Law “pipeline” programs include the Summer
Prep Program for college students and the Legal Outreach Program for
Eighth Graders, both of which are sponsored by the Ronald
H. Brown Center for Civil Rights and Economic Development.