Maryland judges, attorneys, and justice officials will engage with students to discuss law and society at the Civics and Law Academy in Montgomery County. Scheduled for November 29, the event will take place at Springbrook High School in Silver Spring, involving around 80 students. Maryland Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera is set to be the plenary speaker.
The session aims to provide students with insights into juvenile rights, criminal law, free speech, and technology-related legal issues. Chief Judge Barbera emphasized the importance of educating future leaders about the legal system's role in democracy: “We have an obligation to our students, who are tomorrow’s leaders, to provide a meaningful understanding of our legal system and the role it plays in our democracy.”
The Civics and Law Academy helps high school students understand U.S. government functions and individual roles in democracy. Sessions occur throughout Maryland during the school year. Howard County District Judge Pamila J. Brown noted that connecting legal issues with daily student experiences encourages engaging discussions: “Tying in the legal and law-related issues that students deal with on a daily basis sparks lively discussions, which lead to great questions and interesting insights.”
This academy session is organized by several partners including the Maryland Judiciary, Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA), Citizenship and Law-Related Education Program (CLREP), Montgomery County Bar Association, and Montgomery County Public Schools.