Fall Mock Trial Program Poses First Amendment Challenges for Student Attorneys
For ten weeks last fall, hundreds of Massachusetts middle school students brimmed with excitement. Through Discovering Justice’s Mock Trial Program, student attorneys used a timely First Amendment case (Jordan King v. Granger School District) to examine the interplay between social media, environmental justice, bullying, and free speech – hot-button topics that are only increasing in relevance and urgency, especially for students.
Discovering Justice’s Fall 2023 Mock Trial Final Events showcase was the largest of its kind in the program’s history. In 13 courthouses across the Commonwealth, 34 teams of over 400 total student attorneys presented their cases. Supporting the event were 180 legal mentors, 34 state and federal judges, 300+ volunteer jurors, and 36 teacher coordinators from 15 communities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Discovering Justice Mock Trial and Mock Appeal Programs Manager Lisa Perez Tighe described courthouses “filled with proud families and community members” who had gathered together to celebrate “the hard work done by the students, teachers, and legal mentors.”
Throughout the program, student attorneys wrestled with the tension between students’ right to free speech and the ability to come to school without being bullied. In Jordan King v. Granger School District, a high school environmentalist brings a case against her school for violating her right to free speech. School administrators demand that she remove videos that she had posted on the TikTok social media platform to call out student peers for contributing to climate change.
Calling the Mock Trial Final Events "inspiring," Tighe added that “witnessing students learn firsthand about their constitutional rights highlights the critical civic and democratic ideals Discovering Justice endeavors to instill.”
Now Registering Teams for Spring Mock Appeal Program
More than 20 middle school teams have already registered for Discovering Justice’s Spring 2024 Mock Appeal Program, which will focus on Jordan King’s appeal to a higher court after Granger High School prevailed at the Mock Trials held in the fall.
Sign-ups are still open for Mock Appeal teams and partners. Lawyers, law professors, legal professionals, school leaders, teachers, and other community members are invited to sign up their firms, law schools, bar associations, school districts, and middle schools for the program this spring. Interested parties should contact Discovering Justice Community Partnerships Manager Malia Brooks (mbrooks@discoveringjustice.org), or register online.
Welcoming New Staff to Discovering Justice
Katherine Susich – Development and Administrative Associate
Katherine Susich believes strongly in the role of democracy and civic education in both mitigating social conflict and building prosperous, inclusive communities. Before joining Discovering Justice, she worked as a Program Associate for the Consortium on Gender, Security, and Human Rights at the University of Massachusetts - Boston. Katherine graduated from The Catholic University of America with degrees in History and World Politics, and earned a master’s degree in Conflict Transformation and Social Justice from Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland.
Emily Duggan – Communications and Development Senior Associate
Emily Duggan believes in the importance of experiential learning programs to help young people explore new perspectives, environments, and ideas. A poet and performer, Emily is proud to have supported communications and development initiatives for a variety of local nonprofits. She earned a BA in Creative Writing from Brandeis University, with graduate study in Theatre Education at Emerson College and Writing at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Save the Date! Discovering Justice Annual Gala 2024
Discovering Justice's Annual Gala 204 will take place on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, from 5:30-8:00 PM, at the Artists for Humanity EpiCenter (100 W 2nd St in Boston's Fort Point neighborhood). More information, including about award honorees and special guests, will follow.
Discovering Justice to Participate in MA Civic Learning Week
This spring, Discovering Justice joins forces with the Massachusetts Civic Learning Coalition (MCLC) and other civic leaders for Massachusetts Civic Learning Week.
From March 11-15, Discovering Justice and its partners will host a variety of events, bringing together local students, educators, policymakers, and leaders to energize the movement to make civic learning a top priority in classrooms across the Commonwealth. The theme for this year’s Civic Learning Week is “Civic Learning as a Unifying Force Beyond 2024.”
Discovering Justice has three events planned. The organization will host two virtual “Zoom with a Judge” sessions for students in elementary through high school to learn about the judicial system directly from a judge.
In the name of MCLC, Discovering Justice will also be coordinating an in-person forum at the Massachusetts State House, which invites legislators and their staff to hear from students and teachers about civic education programs happening in districts across Massachusetts.
Interested parties are invited to fill out MCLC’s interest form for more information, including registration dates.
Massachusetts Civics Learning Week is a part of National Civic Learning Week.
Children Discovering Justice Growing in Service to Students and Teachers
Children Discovering Justice (CDJ) is a Massachusetts standards-based K-5 civics curriculum engaging students in topics such as community, rules, leadership, and equity while answering essential questions, like "What is justice, and how do I use my voice to advocate for it?" As of this winter, over 100 elementary school educators have introduced Children Discovering Justice (CDJ) curriculum to their classrooms.
In order to reach an even greater number of students, educators, and communities across the Commonwealth and improve accessibility, Discovering Justice Courthouse Programs Manager Kiara Batista and Board Member Fabiane Noronha have begun translating CDJ curriculum into Portuguese, with Spanish translations to follow.
To support teacher success in implementing CDJ curriculum in classrooms, Discovering Justice offers in-depth professional development for educators. Led by Discovering Justice Education Program Director Laura Brenner, these collaborative sessions help teachers unpack CDJ lessons, problem-solve challenges, and plan for culturally responsive civic pedagogy with a focus on student discourse.
School community members interested in learning more about CDJ are invited to sign up to receive Discovering Justice’s CDJ newsletter. To inquire about professional development for a school or district, please contact Laura Brenner at lbrenner@discoveringjustice.org.
Events at the Moakley Courthouse
In December, Discovering Justice hosted a special panel event, “Court Interpreting Within the Judiciary: Making Justice Accessible.” Moderated by Discovering Justice Executive Director Matt Wilson, the panel included current and former interpreters, a judge, and an attorney, all discussing the essential role interpreters play in the courtroom and larger legal system and the challenges those interpreters face.
Sponsored by The U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the Federal Bar Association, and the New England Translation Association, the panel event was a part of an ongoing public events series in the Moakley U.S. Courthouse from the Courthouse and Discovering Justice. Over the last two years, this series has offered events focusing on Restorative Justice and the role of the media in the justice system.
Upcoming Courthouse Events
Discovering Justice is proud to sponsor the Black History Month Judicial Round Table on Wednesday, February 21, at 3:00 PM at the Moakley Courthouse. Panelists will include Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Kimberly Budd, Chief Magistrate Judge for the U.S. District Court Donald Cabell, U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Massachusetts Angel Kelley, Associate for the Massachusetts Appeals Court Kenneth Desmond, and U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Massachusetts Denise Casper.
Mark your calendar for June 20, when the Courthouse will host a panel event for the 50th anniversary of Morgan v. Hennigan, which found Boston Public Schools to be unconstitutionally segregated. This and other legal cases would serve as the foundation for a decade of busing for Boston students.
Welcoming New Trustees to Discovering Justice’s Board
Sarah Walters – Partner, McDermot Will & Emery
Sarah Walters brings a strong interest in civic education to the Discovering Justice Board, along with admiration for the Mock Trial, Mock Appeal, and Children Discovering Justice Programs. The daughter of an attorney, Sarah grew up in Portland, Oregon, then moved to the East Coast to study at UPenn and BC Law School. She has worked at Goodwin and Nutter and first encountered Discovering Justice while working in the Moakley Courthouse for the U.S. Attorney.
Emily Sy – Litigation Counsel, Takeda Pharmaceuticals
Emily Sy chairs the Asian American Lawyers of Massachusetts and serves on the Boards of Greater Boston Legal Services and Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center. She also led the Takeda Legal Mentor team for the Rindge Avenue Upper School in Cambridge. Emily grew up in Ohio and attended Wellesley College and law school at Yeshiva University. Previously, she worked at State Street and Nixon Peabody.
Supporting the Work of Discovering Justice
Discovering Justice owes our success to the strength of our partnerships. From our dedicated community of staff, volunteers, educators, judges, legal professionals, donors, and beyond, we all work together to help the students of the Commonwealth examine the workings of the justice system, explore the ideals of justice, and engage in our democracy.
Help Discovering Justice build capacity to reach more students across Massachusetts with our innovative civic education programs.