Shadow Days
Alice Lopez, Team Leader


Shadow days will be scheduled between May 1 and May 16, 1997. Students will be selected by their teachers to "shadow" a judge or court professiona for a portion of acourt trial, jury selection, or other courthouse settings. Students who participate in t hese activities will be selected based on academic performance and outstanding citizenship. The activities will be carefully selected to insure the students' safety and the confidentiality of courtroom participants.

Students willreceive a package of information before they begin their shadow experience. This package contains written assignments they will be required to complete. The students may also be asked to write a report on the learning experience.

The specific "shadow" activities will include the following:

1. Jury Services- The student will participate in jury services to learn how jurors are selected for court trials. This will include sitting in the courtroom while jurors are selected for trials. This shadow session will last three hours and will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

2. Courtroom Activity with supervision from a Judicial Assistant - Judicial Assistants are more commonly known as courtroom clerks and are responsible for assisting the Judge in the courtroom while judicial proceedings occur. The student will shad ow the judicial assistant during any number of judicial proceedings. The judicial proceedings will be selected with great care in consideration of the students safety and security. This session will last three hours and will be held from 8:30 to 11:30 a .m.

3. Judge- Students will have an opportunity to work with a Judge in chambers or in a courtroom setting. Students will be carefully selected as will the judicial proceedings or chamber conferences in which they participate. This session will last two to three hours from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

4. Records/Exhibits supervisor or staff - Students will shadow a member of the Courts Records and Exhibits Division. They will learn how evidence is secured for court trials. They will also tour our file storage rooms and learn about the courts o bligation to the Public Records Act.

There are many other integral courthouse activities that may be chosen for student participation for future Shadow Day events. The above activities have been highlighted for the upcoming May 1997 session.

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