Rochester Reporter

J.U.S.T. L.A.W., an initiative designed to promote better understanding between court officials and city youth, will hold its fifth annual awards ceremony at noon on Wednesday, June 7 at the Hall of Justice, 99 Exchange Blvd. 12 students will be recognized for their outstanding 2022-2023 essay submissions.

Rochester Deputy Mayor Patrick Cunningham will host the event, and be joined by the Hon. William K. Taylor, the Hon. Craig Doran, the Hon. Fatimat O. Reid, and RCSD Superintendent Dr. Carmine Peluso to congratulate the participants. Rochester Black Bar Association President, Jessica Simon-Rutledge, will serve as mistress of ceremonies.

Justice, Understanding,Societal Trust and Literacy, Attendance, Writing (J.U.S.T.L.A.W) is a collaborative effort between the City of Rochester, the 7th Judicial District, radio station 103.9 FM WDKX, the Rochester Black Bar Association, and the Rochester City School District. The initiative provides students in grades 6–9 the opportunity to interface with judges and other court officials and learn more about the U.S. legal system. The program was founded in 2017 by WDKX Owner and General Manager Andre Langston, along with Justice Craig Doran in collaboration with the City of Rochester.

During Wednesday’s ceremony, the 12 honorees will have an opportunity to recite their winning essays to invited guests including parents, school principals, judges, and Hall of Justice employees. The ceremony can also be viewed live https://notify.nycourts.gov/meet/0agzrn.

The winning essayists will receive Certificates of Special Mayoral Recognition, an Amazon Fire tablet, and a check for $103.90. Winners will also receive a J.U.S.T. L.A.W. Medal of Honor from the Rochester City School District.

Over the course of the program, judges from the 7th Judicial District visited 12 RCSD schools to present information on how the justice system works and the role it plays in the community. Students shared their own perspectives and experiences with the justice system, fostering important dialogue between court officials and participating youth.

Students wrote 250-word essays on the topic, “What Justice Means to Me.” More than 100 essays were judged by the J.U.S.T. L.A.W. executive committee members, and the top 12 essays were selected as the winners, to mirror the jury selection process and the 12 jurors selected for a trial.

The 2022-2023 J.U.S.T. L.A.W. student winners are:

 

Joel Canales                                        RISE Community School                                                 6th grade

 

Zoe DeBlieck                                      School of the Arts                                                            7th grade

 

Kidielys Diaz                                       Anna Murray-Douglass Academy                              8th grade

 

Zahra Hassani                                    School of the Arts                                                            7th grade

 

Nyomi Lee-Riley                               RISE Community School                                                 6th grade

 

Paola Lorenzana                               Anna Murray-Douglass Academy                              8th grade

 

Keriam Ocasio                                   Anna Murray-Douglass Academy                              7th grade

 

Patricia Padilla                                   Anna Murray-Douglass Academy                              7th grade

 

Edialis Trinidad                                  Anna Murray-Douglass Academy                              8th grade

 

Alana Williams                                   Dr. Alice Holloway School of Excellence                  8th grade

 

Mason Wolff                                      Anna Murray-Douglass Academy                              7th grade

 

Maria Yohana                                    Dr. Alice Holloway School of Excellence  8th grade

 

For more information on the Just Law program, visit www.cityofrochester.gov/justlaw/.

Original source can be found here.