Framingham Students Participate In Free Speech Mock Trials

Press release from Framingham Public Schools:

June 14, 2021

Culminating an eleven week virtual program in which middle schools are partnered with legal mentors from area law offices, law schools, and city offices, students presented their cases online about First Amendment Free Speech rights to a panel of federal judges and attorneys in a Mock Appeal case.
One team from Framingham participated in the Mock Appeal.

• Framingham Public Schools with General Electric Legal Team

Discovering Justice Mock Appeal provides an example of the exciting educational opportunities that are being offered online to middle school students during COVID.

The Mock Appeal has traditionally been held in the Moakley Federal Courthouse, yet restrictions placed upon group gatherings in 2020 have led to reconstituting these culminating community events to an online format.

Each of the 22 teams conducted their hour-long trial in front of a panel of judges consisting of a state or federal judge and two senior attorneys. Family members and teachers were also present.

This press release was produced by Framingham Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author's own.