Southern California High School Students Get a First Hand Look
at the Justice System at a Special Session of The Second District Court of Appeal.

LOS ANGELES--October 25, 2004--Today, the Second Appellate District of the California Court of Appeal held a special oral argument session in its courtroom in the Ronald Reagan Building for 60 12^th grade students from Environmental Charter High School, Lawndale Unified School District, and Mira Costa High School, Manhattan Beach Unified School District.

The program, co-sponsored by Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF), seeks to educate young people about their legal and constitutional rights and the purpose and process of the appellate court system by observing an actual oral argument and interacting with the Justices. The Court heard arguments in People v. Lopez (B173692), a criminal appeal filed after a jury in the Los Angeles Superior Court convicted the defendant of robbery. Court of Appeal Presiding Justice Roger W. Boren and Associate Justices Kathryn Doi Todd and Judith Ashmann-Girst will decide the case.

Presiding Justice Boren, commenting on the special session stated, "We are pleased to welcome high school students to the first of what the Court hopes are many such special occasions in our court room. We greatly appreciate the volunteer efforts of Constitutional Rights Foundation and Attorney David Laufer in providing the coordinating and structure of the program and we are grateful to Carol K. Lysaght, attorney for the appellant and Deputy Attorney General Jonathon J. Kline, attorney for the respondent for their participation. We trust that the students will find the experience valuable and interesting and that their enthusiasm will help foster continuing efforts to make the program available to students."

In preparation for the special session, teachers Don Sterret and Robert Timberlake of the participating schools utilized lessons prepared by Constitutional Rights Foundation on the appellate process and the facts and issues of the appeal. In addition, the court provided students with a synopsis of the case and copies of the parties' briefing. In a follow-up classroom session, students will learn about and discuss the decision.

"American democracy depends on an independent judiciary, said Marshall Croddy, Director of Program at Constitutional Rights Foundation "yet few people appreciate how it works. This program helps students learn about the process and its importance."

For more information, visit the CRF website at www.crf-usa.org.