After a pause from the pandemic period, the students of Brownsville Middle School Law Academy hosted its commemoration of ABA Law Day 2024 that celebrated the theme, “What Makes A Good Judge” as “Voices in our Democracy.” May 1 is designated as the official Law Day.
With the support of the law firms of Hamilton Miller & Birthisel and Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, the historic middle school and its ground breaking law academy welcomed judges from the 11th Judicial Circuit and US Southern District to share thoughts on their professional journeys and their perspectives on what makes a good judge in the courtroom. Special guests of the Law Day commemoration included:
- Chief Judge Nushin Sayfie
- Judge Michelle Delancy – Criminal Division
- Judge Jason Dimitris – Juvenile Division
- Judge Tanya Brinkley – Civil Division
- Judge Jacqueline Becerra – Federal Court
- State Representative, District 109, Ashley Gantt
- Office of Public Defender, Guy David Robinson
- Executive Assistant US Attorney, Maurice Johnson
- Attorney Roland Sanchez Medina, President elect, Florida Bar
- Terry Ann Howell, president, Wilkie D Ferguson Bar Association
- Charise Morgan, President Elect, Miami Dade Bar Association
- Suzette Russomanno, president, Miami Dade Bar
“This is a dream realized for the future of our community partner students at Brownsville Middle School. Law Day is a special opportunity to celebrate the best of our profession in our democracy and to show the students what’s possible,” Managing Partner of Hamilton Miller & Birthisel Jerry Hamilton noted. “On this particular Law Day, however, we want the students to understand the power of their voices in their personal lives and their future chosen careers,” Hamilton noted.
After hearing from the judges present, the students conducted excerpts of a mock trial of a cyber bullying case. The students who led the exercise included: Chloe Nelson(lead prosecutor), Briana Turbi (2nd lead prosecutor), Jackie Edmond (defense lawyer), Juliette Dumarsais (victim), R’Miyah Hendrickson (defendant), and Justin Gonzalez (judge).
The Law Day commemoration also remembered the life and contributions of the late judge Hon. Marcia Cooke, US Southern District who dedicated the opening of a new mock courtroom for a civics and legal studies curriculum at the school. In addition to public support during The Miami Foundation Give Miami Day, the Law Academy Mock Courtroom was realized with the financial and in-kind lsupport of BMe Community, William Kenan Charitable Trust, Miami Dade Public Schools, Design2Form Architects, Messam Construction , School Board members Dr. Dorothy Bendross Mindingall and the New Foundation for Education Initiatives.
“We are committed to this vision for the studies at students and their families at Brownsville Middle School. We believe that with a connected and supportive community, they can and will fulfill their dreams. Our legal system will forever remain accessible and familiar to them,” stated attorney Marlon Hill of Weiss Serota.
To view the Law Day commemoration program, go to https://link.edgepilot.com/s/
About Law Day
Envisioned in 1957 by then-ABA President Charles S. Rhyne as a national day to recognize the country’s commitment to the rule of law, Law Day was established by President Dwight Eisenhower the following year. Congress issued a joint resolution in 1961 designating May 1 as the official Law Day. Many civic groups and bar associations celebrate with programs, presentations and events.
Law Day is sponsored by the ABA Division for Public Education, whose mission is to promote public understanding of law and its role in society.
The ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law. Follow the latest ABA news at https://link.edgepilot.com/s/
