The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia in partnership with Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, hosted the 2nd Annual Street Law Mock Trial on April 23, 2014, at the United States Federal Courthouse. John Marshall students and Assistant U.S. Attorneys met at Booker T. Washington High School bi-weekly to teach various legal topics to 10th and 11th grade students from Ms. Carrie Dean’s Business Law class as part of the Street Law program. The program culminated with an in-depth mock trial presentation.
The Honorable Timothy C. Batten, Sr., United States District Court Judge, presided over the mock trial. Students from the Atlanta high school argued the mock case of the State of Georgia v. Daniel Capulet. In the scenario, Capulet was indicted for murder, felony murder, and aggravated assault for the May 14, 2011 shooting of Philip Newton. After great legal arguments from the students and robust jury deliberations, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict and Judge Batten directed counsel to retry the case again next year.
The Street Law program teaches practical law to laypersons using interactive teaching methodologies. It empowers youth to use their knowledge to solve problems, better their communities, and become active and knowledgeable participants in society.
John Marshall students and recent graduates worked the entire spring semester teaching practical legal courses and preparing high school students for the mock trial. The students involved include: Aklima Khondoker, Alexander Silpa, Allison Lawrence, Courtney Gilkinson, Ellakisha O’Kelley, Emily Napier, Erin King, Eugenia Wallace, Gina Smith, Jackie Tyo, Hannah Mitchell, Jason Ross, Jaye Cole, Jeremy Yakle, Mary Snyder, Michael Roth, Miguel Barboza Jr., Monique Milner, Oluwasegun Adefope, Rebecca Palmer, Sunnita Blount, Jasmine Rowan, and Marcus Dickerson.
Also, Street Law was such a success that Atlanta Public Schools featured the program on its website. For more information on Street Law at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, contact the Office of Pro Bono and Experiential Learning at rturner@johnmarshall.edu or bortega@johnmarshall.edu.