Community Events

Teen Court is a successful early intervention program that provides an opportunity for selected juvenile offenders to be questioned, judged, and sentenced by a jury of their peers. Here is how it works: A minor accused of a low level, first-time offense is referred to Teen Court. A real judge presides over the case in a high school setting where students serve as bailiff, clerk, and jurors. Student jurors pose questions to the charged minor and her parents, reach a verdict, and, if there is a conviction, recommend the penalty. Minors who are convicted and comply with the probationary terms imposed by Teen Court will earn a dismissal of the charges. Serving as a Teen Court bailiff, clerk, or juror can often be a student’s first introduction to the legal system and has the potential to spark a life-long interest in the law. The experience can also impart a sense of civic responsibility and community in a court that is truly the students’ own.

The principal, faculty and students at Pasadena High School are all extremely enthusiastic about the Teen Court program – so much so that the school has actually constructed a courtroom on campus for the exclusive use of Pasadena Teen Court. Court takes place at Pasadena High School (2925 East Sierra Madre Boulevard, Building I, Room 208, Pasadena, CA 91107) from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm on the second Thursday of every month. Our anticipated dates for this school year are September 14, 2017, October 12, 2017, November 9, 2017, December 14, 2017, January 11, 2018, February 8, 2018, March 8, 2018, April 12, 2018, and May 10, 2018.

If you are interested in volunteering at any of these Pasadena Teen Court sessions, or if you have any questions, please send an email to PasadenaTeenCourt@gmail.com or contact Judge Elaine Lu at (213) 830-0777.

Thanks so much for your support, and we hope to see you at an upcoming Pasadena Teen Court session!

We invite you to participate in a Power Lunch on 9/14/17 from 12 noon to 1:30 pm at the Pasadena Courthouse, 300 East Walnut Street, Dept. A, Pasadena, CA 91101.

The Los Angeles Superior Court and Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles have hosted numerous Power Lunches for inner-city high school students throughout the county.  These Power Lunches are a unique opportunity for students, lawyers, judges, and court staff members to come together to discuss career choices and the legal system.  For many of the students who participate, the Power Lunch is their first interaction with an attorney or a judge, and the experience can spark an interest in pursuing a career in the legal system.

Students are broken down into small groups of approximately 6 to 10 members each.  In this small group setting, volunteer attorneys and judges discuss their career paths, including what initially piqued their interest in the legal profession, what they do on a day-to- day basis, and what they enjoy about their work.  Small group leaders may also help coach the students on topics that help prepare them for the Legal Jeopardy game to conclude the program. Lunch will be provided to all attorney and judge volunteers.

Power Lunches have always been a tremendously worthwhile and rewarding experience for both the students and the attorney and judge volunteers.  Please sign up to volunteer for the 9/14/17 Pasadena Power Lunch via the following link:

http://www.wlala.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=993567

If you have any questions, please email Kay Burt at kay@wlala.org

Thanks so much for your time, and I hope to see you at the 9/14/17 Power Lunch!
 
Best,
Hon. Elaine Lu
Co-Chair, Los Angeles Superior Court Power Lunch Subcommittee

Sept. 7 – Nov. 5, 2017
5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Alhambra High School
101 S. Second Street, Alhambra, CA 91801
 
Attorneys and law students are needed to mentor Alhambra High School’s Mock Trial Team. The program, hosted by the Constitutional Rights Foundation, allows students to take on the roles of attorneys, witnesses, and court staff in a criminal case. Mentors will help students prepare for the annual competition by judging practice sessions and giving feedback on student arguments/performances.
 
Mentors do not need to participate every week. Mentors will be able to contribute from home the weeks of September 11 – October 2. The scheduled curriculum is as follows:

·      September 11 – Review the given case packet.
·      September 18 – Email feedback of students’ outlines (submitted two days prior).
·      September 25 – Email feedback of students’ first drafts (submitted two days prior).
·      October 9 – Preside over/critique first half of Alhambra scrimmage.
·      October 16 – Preside over/critique second half of Alhambra scrimmage.
·      Week of October 23 – Preside over/critique an inter-school scrimmage (Date TBD).
·      November 6 – Give feedback at final practice session.

For more information and to sign up, please email Anthony Hu at anthony.hu@outlook.com or call (626) 861-1031 by August 1.