June 03, 2008
On Saturday May 17, 2008, St. John’s University School of Law
was teeming with future lawyers and their families. The
Catholic Middle School Mock Trial Program brought together over 200
students – mostly Seventh and Eighth Graders – to try their hands
at being trial lawyers and witnesses. Twenty-four teams from
nine different Catholic grade schools on Long Island
participated. The program was jointly sponsored by St.
Brigid/Our Lady of Hope Regional School in Westbury, St. John’s
University School of Law, and the Ronald H. Brown Center for Civil
Rights and Economic Development.
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The case the students used involved a lawsuit stemming from a
hit-and-run accident. The plaintiff was a world-class athlete
who was struck by a car while out for a late-night jog. The
defendant was a high school student who was returning from a Senior
Night party at which alcohol was served. The witnesses
included the plaintiff, an elderly eyewitness, the investigating
police officer, the defendant, a classmate, and a school guidance
counselor. The student teams had spent weeks preparing their
cases and practicing with attorney coaches and mentors. At
the School of Law program on May 17, the students presented their
cases in a realistic setting with lawyers from the St. John’s and
St. Brigid’s communities 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.”
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 approximately 500 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.
St. John’s wishes to thank the judges who contributed their time
and talent to this program:
- Victoria Brown-Douglas, Assistant Professor of Clinical Legal
Education
- Andrea Clarke ‘06, Assistant District Attorney, Kings
County
- Jeffrey DeGeorges, Partner, Geisler & Gabriele
- Erica Fine ‘82, Associate Director, BAR/BRI
- Antara Kanth ‘06, Assistant District Attorney, Queens
County
- Janai Nelson, Assistant Professor of Law
- Elsa Preston ‘91, Partner, Preston, Wilkins & Martin
- Gregory Preston ‘91, Partner, Preston, Wilkins &
Martin
- Craig Rokuson ’06, Associate, Thacher Proffitt & Wood
- Kerry Rowe ‘06, Assistant District Attorney, Kings County
- Eon Smith ‘03, Partner, Law Offices of Eon Smith
- Kareem Vessup ‘04, Partner, Law Offices of Kareem Vessup
For more information, contact Professor Michael A. Simons at
(718) 990-6013 or via email simonsm@stjohns.edu.