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Good Luck Class of 2015!
The Newark Youth Court kicked off the summer on a bittersweet
note by holding the annual graduation ceremony for 5 seniors, who are all
currently in their first year of college! The ceremony and cookout was held at
Newark Community Solutions’ anti-violence project, Newark United Against
Violence (NUAV). The ceremony featured a keynote address by senior Naa Adei
Kotey. The other graduating seniors (Zaire Brown, Kianna George, Bria Pitts,
& Michael McGibbon) gave remarks and advice to younger members. Seniors
received goody bags filled with school supplies donated by Newark Community
Solutions and Newark Municipal Court staff members. The event also included a
live DJ and dance party for the graduates!
Newark Municipal Court's Summer Enrichment Mock Trial with La
Casa de Don Pedro
As part of our annual summer service project, our Youth Court
members and interns prepared 2nd graders at La Casa de Don Pedro’s Summer
Enrichment program for their own mock trial. Members used the New Jersey State
Bar Foundation's mock trial guide to help them lead sessions with the students.
The "The Case of the Missing Puppy" mock trial event
was hosted and sponsored by the Newark Municipal Court with Chief Judge
Victoria Pratt presiding. For many of the students it was their first time in a
real life courthouse! At the end of the event, participants asked Judge Pratt
questions about her career and had the opportunity to try on her robe in the
judge’s chair!
National Night Out and Mural
In 2014, our Youth Court members worked with Newark Community
Solutions’ to create a theme and mural design for its adopt-a-lot garden in the
West Ward. Youth Court members presented their anti-violence theme and design
at NCS’s National Night Out event last year. The mural was then unveiled at
NCS’s 2015 National Night Out. Youth Court members and respondents prepped the
wall for local artist Gregg Banks, who brought the Youth Court’s vision to
life!
9th Class Training & Induction
The Newark Youth Court also held its 9th training class this
summer! A special thank you to our guest trainers: Laura Cohen, Esq. and Dr.
Paul Boxer (Center for Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, Rutgers-Newark);
Det. Sequoya Martin (Newark Police Department- Youth Aid Section); and France
Casseus, Esq. and Herbert Washington, Esq. (Newark Municipal Court-Prosecutor’s
Office).
An induction ceremony was held for the new members and included
a keynote address from Dean Kenya Tyson of Rutgers-Newark School of Criminal
Justice and remarks by Newark Municipal Council President Mildred Crump and
Councilman at-Large Carlos Gonzalez. Chief Judge Victoria Pratt administered
the oath and provided encouraging words. Welcome Class 9!
