Federal Court Welcomes Students for 2018 Court Works Program

PHOENIX – Federal judges and court staff hosted the 14th Annual Court Works program on Friday, November 9, 2018, at the Sandra Day O’Connor United States Courthouse in Phoenix. More than 300 eighth-graders from Phoenix area participated in the program, which introduces youngsters to constitutional principles and the judicial system and encourages them to think about careers in the legal field. Ninth Circuit Judge Mary H. Murguia, who helped found the program, welcomed the students to the event. The students re-enacted an actual court case in mock trials, assuming the roles of judges, jurors, prosecutors, defense attorneys, defendants, and witnesses. They met with representatives of the U.S. Marshals Service and the court’s Probation and Pretrial Services offices. Participating students were from Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School, Glenview Adventist Academy, Maricopa Village Christian School, St. Vincent De Paul Catholic School, Glenn L. Downs Elementary School, Desert Sand Middle School, and Kings Ridge Preparatory Academy. Court Works is a partnership of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona and the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University.