CourtWorks: students to take the bench in Federal Court

On Oct. 26, the Sandra Day O’Connor U.S. Courthouse will be filled with eighth-graders as part of a program that introduces students to constitutional principles and the judicial system and creates a context for them for professional careers in law.

CourtWorks is a partnership of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona, led by the Judge Mary H. Murguia of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. This year, the annual event will give approximately 300 local students the opportunity to experience the court system in action as they re-enact a U.S. Supreme Court decision in a real federal courtroom. Students will perform every role in the case, acting as judges, jurors, prosecutors, defense attorneys, defendants and witnesses.

The students are from ASPIRE Academy / Connolly, Hamilton Elementary, Kuban Elementary, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Pioneer Preparatory and St. Vincent de Paul Elementary.

Valle del Sol, a community based organization with extensive ties to local communities and their issues, also is a supporter of CourtWorks.