By Phil Boudewyns, Court Administrator, Gwinnett County | Recently, high school students from Central Gwinnett and South Gwinnett High schools met with local judges as part of a mentoring program focused on the legal system.
A panel of Recorders Court judges, a Magistrate Court judge, a State Court judge, and a Superior Court judge, all from the Gwinnett Circuit, spent over an hour discussing their legal careers and the law with students eager to learn about the legal profession. The students were given the opportunity to ask questions and peppered the judges with queries about their legal backgrounds and various legal issues.
Students in the S.M.I.L.E. program include Marquise “Jay” Bird, Christine Kim, Conner Densmore, State Senator P.K. Martin (a speaker), Amy Podgurski, Deborah Esowhode, D’Nice Norton, Deveon Latimore, Lois Tiwaa, NeKayla Goldsby, Cassandra Onuhoa, and State Court Judge Joe Iannazzone, one of the founders.
The S.M.I.L.E. (Summer Mentoring in Legal Education) Gwinnett program was initiated by Judge Pam South and Judge Joe Iannazzone from the State Court this spring with the assistance of teacher Rebecca Streetman, program specialist for Law, Public Safety, Corrections and Security at South Gwinnett High School; and attorney Dana Pagan, a former teacher at Central Gwinnett High School and now a Gwinnett County Assistant Solicitor. Students applied for the program and were selected in April. The program encompasses six themed presentations and a graduation ceremony, all in the months of June and July.
The program is hosted at the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center, the county’s courthouse in Lawrenceville, where students have attended sessions in courtrooms. The program began June 3, when the students had a “Lunch with Lawyers” sponsored by the Gwinnett Bar Association. On June 10, the students also attended a program on constitutional law and a presentation on the legislative process by State Senator P.K. Martin, who also spent time telling the students about the Georgia Legislature’s Page Program. The teenagers have become familiar with the courthouse, touring areas including the holding cells and the law library.
Students are looking forward to a tour of the county jail and additional programs on the new “accountability courts” programs and social media issues for teens. The program will end with a reception for students and parents, where students will make presentations regarding their summer experiences in the legal field.
Judge Stacey Hydrick of DeKalb County State Court began a summer mentoring program for high schoolers several years ago in Decatur. Judges South and Iannazzone embraced the idea for Gwinnett county high school students. The program is offered at no cost to the students and is staffed by volunteers. Program leaders are hopeful for a successful first year, with plans to expand the program in the future.
Follow Us