Nathan Bishop Middle School Students, U.S Attorney's Office Volunteer Prosecutors and Staff Complete Discovering Justice Mock Trial Program

In December 2022, a federal court jury in Providence returned a verdict in a lawsuit brought by a local high school student who claimed that her 4^th Amendment rights were violated when the principal suspended her for damaging school property, information the principal discovered while searching her electronic devices during an unrelated investigation. The student claimed that the search was unreasonable and unconstitutional, and a jury was left to decide the issue, with one catch: instead of a real case, this verdict followed a mock trial conducted by eighth graders at Providence’s Nathan Bishop Middle School, mentored by a team of volunteer federal prosecutors and support staff from the United States Attorney’s Office as part of Discovering Justice, a civics education program that introduces kids to the world of lawyering and the justice system.

Last week, the program returned to federal court, as student attorneys from Nathan Bishop argued this 4^th Amendment issue to a three-judge appellate court panel, making their case based on the facts and actual Supreme Court precedent.

During the fall, 2022 trial court simulation, students authored and delivered opening statements; examined and cross-examined witnesses (made up of volunteers from the U.S. Attorney’s Office staff); and prepared and delivered closing arguments to a volunteer jury. Beginning after the first of the year, the students experienced the world of appellate advocacy, as they authored and then submitted mock-briefs to the court in preparation for oral arguments they delivered to the three-judge panel. As in an actual appellate court hearing, the students were, at times, interrupted by the judges and asked questions about their arguments or  statements made by opposing attorneys.   

Upholding fairness and due process in our legal system depends on the engaged, informed, participation of everyone in our communities,” said U.S. Attorney Cunha. “Discovering Justice does a phenomenal job of showing students how to be exactly that kind of informed, engaged citizen, by introducing them to our judicial system, the importance of zealous advocacy, and the fundamentals of the legal process. These students proved themselves to be amazing advocates, and I am proud that my Office was able to participate in this great event.” 

The Honorable Lara E. Montecalvo of the First Circuit United States Court of Appeals, United States District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., and United States Attorney Zachary A. Cunha presided over the appellate proceedings held on May 31; the Honorable O. Rogeriee Thompson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit presided over the Fall trial.

Discovering Justice is a Boston-based, non-profit organization, with more than two dozen programs currently in progress in Massachusetts. Nathan Bishop Middle School became the first Rhode Island school to participate in the program.

United States Attorney Cunha thanks United States District Court Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr., Clerk of Court Hanorah Tyer-Witek, and the staff of the U.S. District Court for hosting the mock trial; the teachers and staff of Nathan Bishop Middle School for their assistance during the eleven-week program; and the prosecutors and staff of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their volunteer efforts.

Nathan Bishop Middle School Discovering Justice Participants