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CONTACT PERSON:
VALERIE WILLARD
PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER
(504) 599-0319
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JANUARY 8, 2001 |
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Fourth Judicial District
Court Judge Benjamin Jones, President of the Louisiana District
Judges Association (LDJA), announced today that district judges
will dedicate 2001 to creating partnerships with their local
elementary, middle and high schools to promote better understanding
of the law and the judiciary through the recently adopted
"Judges in the Classroom" program. The statewide program involves
regular participation by district judges in classroom discussions
as well as opens courthouse doors for class visits, mock trials
and courtroom presentations.
"At our annual fall
conference, there was overwhelming support among district
judges for implementing the 'Judges in the Classroom' program.
We are currently in the process of developing a syllabus of
materials to assist judge/teacher partners in designing their
own lesson plans to fit class levels, topics of interest,
and learning objectives," Judge Jones said.
Implementation of the
first phase of the LDJA's "Judges in the Classroom" program
is expected during the spring of 2001. In the meantime, the
"Judges in the Classroom" Implementation Committee encourages
district judges throughout the state to continue to welcome
requests to visit local schools and to host courtroom visits
as they have done in the past.
The Implementation
Committee members include the 2000-2001 LDJA officers: President
- Judge Benjamin Jones, 4 th Judicial District Court; First
Vice-President - Judge Durwood Conque. 15 th Judicial District
Court; Second Vice-President - Judge Patricia H. Minaldi,
14 th Judicial District Court; Secretary - Judge Michael G.
Bagneris, Orleans Civil District Court; and Treasurer - Judge
Jerome J. Barbera, III, 17 th Judicial District Court; along
with Judge Mary Hotard Becnel, 40 th Judicial District Court
and Judge W. Ross Foote, 9 th Judicial District Court.
For more information about the Louisiana
District Judges Association's "Judges in the Classroom" program
contact LaKoshia Roberts at (318) 361-2259.
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