Miami Senior High School Legal and Public Affairs Magnet Program Contact: Ed Asper, Lead Teacher Miami Senior High School Legal and Public Affairs Magnet Program 2450 SW 1st Street Miami FL 33135 E-mail: easper@Dadeschools.net Law Week 2001 Activity Summary: Law Week 2001 was the first major activity for the new Legal and Public Affairs Magnet Program at Miami Senior High School. The kick off was a hearing by the Florida Bar Commission on the Legal Needs of Children. The hearing provided an opportunity for more than 160 students from grades 9 thru 12 to participate. Tuesday night, parents listened to a presentation given by the Chief of Police, the Head of Juvenile Division for the State Attorney and the Director for the Public Defender Office. The week ended with a presentation by Judge Marilyn Milian (the People’s Court). Activity Narrative: The activities were planned with the assistance of Lori Sochin, Carlos Martinez and Bill Howell, and three attorneys and members of our advisory board. The week's activities started with the Florida Bar Commission on the Legal Needs of Children, holding its first public hearing at Miami Senior High School. Before the hearing about 160 students participated in a survey asking students to identify various legal needs of children. On April 30, the students provided the commission the opportunity to hear comments based on the survey. Teachers as well as administrators also participated. This event provided the opportunity to meet judges, attorneys, and various legal experts from the State of Florida. The hearing lasted for over 90 minutes, and both students and commission members spoke very highly of the event. On May 2, an activity was organized to inform the parents with legal issues affecting their children. This event was held at night at Miami High, and was attended by over 75 parents and students. The presenters were Miami Chief of Police Raul Martinez; Leon Botkin, Chief, Juvenile Division, Dade County State Attorney; and Carlos Martinez, Program Director for the Public Defender Office. Presenters informed the parents of various issues that parents should be aware of like truancy, drugs such as Ecstasy, and general information as to the various legal agencies that deal with juvenile issues. The week ended with a presentation by Judge Marilyn Milian of the People’s Court. Ms. Milian was a judge here in Dade County for years before accepting the offer to become television's People’s Court judge. Judge Milian spoke to the students about the similarities and differences of her job. Judge Milian brought with her a tape of one of her shows and asked the students how they would rule. This was our first Law Week event. We felt it went off well and the students really enjoyed themselves. It is our hope that next year we will have a bigger Law Week. Sample Programs Home | By Audience | By Location | By Sponsoring Organization