PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE

MEDIA ADVISORY

CONTACT: 

Jennifer Donahue/Erika Gully-Santiago               
(617) 557-1114

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 15, 2018

Supreme Judicial Court Justice Kimberly S. Budd to Address Judicial Youth Corps Students in Graduation Ceremony

WHAT:

On Thursday, August 16, Supreme Judicial Court Justice Kimberly S. Budd will deliver remarks at a graduation ceremony celebrating 36 high school students from Boston, Worcester and Springfield who participated in the Supreme Judicial Court's Judicial Youth Corps (JYC) program over the spring and summer. The ceremony marks the end of an intensive 12-week internship program where students worked in positions within the court system or in court-related offices, made field trips to police stations, jails and law firms, and participated in a mock trial in Suffolk Superior Court as part of the comprehensive educational program.

Others expected to speak include Jeffrey Catalano, Esq., past president of the Massachusetts Bar Association, and Harvey Weiner, Esq., president of the Massachusetts Bar Foundation. A student will also deliver remarks about her experience in the Judicial Youth Corps program.

The Judicial Youth Corps Program is an educational spring and summer internship that teaches high school students about the Massachusetts court system and rule of law. High school students are selected from large pools of applicants through a rigorous application and interview process to participate in the Judicial Youth Corps program. First started in Boston by former Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Paul J. Liacos in 1991, with the help of former Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Roderick L. Ireland (Ret.), the Judicial Youth Corps program affords high school students the opportunity to learn more about the rule of law and the judicial branch through interactions with judges, clerks, lawyers, and court staff who mentor them throughout the summer. A Judicial Youth Corps program was also developed in Worcester in 2000 and in Springfield in 2014.

During May and June, the students attend weekly educational sessions where they learn about criminal and civil law and the role of courts in a democracy. In July and August, the students work in paid internships in the courts or in court-related offices. Hundreds of students have benefited from the court and community partnership program over the years, with many former participants going on to lead successful careers in law, government, business, health care and academia.

Funding for the JYC program is provided by the City of Boston's Youth Fund, the Boston Private Industry Council, the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Massachusetts Bar Foundation.

WHEN:

Thursday, August 16, 2018
2:00 p.m.

WHERE:

Conference Suite (2nd Floor)
John Adams Courthouse
Boston, MA