US Courts & American Judicature Society Contact: Rebecca J. Fanning Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts or Harriet Wilson, Ellis American Judicature Society E-mails: rebecca_fanning@ao.uscourts.gov; hwellis@ajs.org Activity Summary: High school seniors from around the country were able to server as jurors in a mock criminal trial at 34 federal courts.  The mock trial was broadcast via the federal court system's satellite network to courthouses where students deliberated and reached s verdict.  Twelve of the courthouses were linked by interactive push-to-talk technology, allowing students from different sites to talk to each other and announce their verdicts during the live broadcast.  Following the broadcast, judges, federal defenders, prosecutors, and local bar association volunteers conducted their own panel discussions and offered courthouse tours or career information to the students. Sponsorship Entity: The Public Affairs Office of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, the American Judicial Society (AJS), and 34 U.S. District Courts. People Benefiting: Over 2,000 high school students. Best Things about This Program: "The program gave students early exposure to jury service and illustrated the importance of jurors being the partner of the judiciary in serving as the conscience of the community," says Judge Joseph Rodriguez of Camden, NJ, who moderated the program. "The program took place right after the shooting at Columbine High School and it was an opportunity for judges to explain to high school students how disputes are settled within a constitutional framework," according to Charles D. Connor, Assistant Director, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. "Reaching so many students around the country simultaneously was a historic first for the federal courts and for AJS, which has been educating the public about our courts since 1913. The program really demonstrated the potential working together with the U.S. courts' network has for educating even more students or community groups about the court system," explains Sandra Ratcliff Daffron, AJS Executive Vice President and Director. "The program was unique in that it used both technology and personal interaction to educate students," says Rebecca J. Fanning, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Secrets of Success: "Many judges really feel it is their obligation to do whatever they can to educate the public about the courts," says Connor. "By providing the technology and a national plan and then encouraging judges to contact schools on their own, we made it easier for them to interact with students in their own courthouse. The judges enjoyed it." How-to Advice "We were actually able to extend media coverage of Law Day by having the program earlier in the week. We scheduled the broadcast on the Tuesday before Law Day. We provided videotape to the media and one of the federal judges wrote an article about the program which was published later as an op ed piece." Cost:   Approximately $500 for satellite time; local court staff or bar associations provided refreshments. Sample Programs Home | By Audience | By Location | By Sponsoring Organization