law day
Atlanta Bar Association Celebrates Law Day
with Mock Trials and Essay Contest
T
he Atlanta Bar Association’s Law Day Committee
brought attention to this year’s Law Day Theme, “No
Courts, No Justice, No Freedom”, by sponsoring an
essay contest for all students currently enrolled in any of
Atlanta’s 23 public high schools. Many of the schools invited
our volunteers into their classrooms to announce the contest
and answer the students’ questions. Our volunteers met with
enthusiastic students in all of the classes, many of whom had
provocative questions about the theme and possible essay
topics. We received numerous entries from eager students,
as well as others whom we were unable to meet in person.
Three winners were chosen from among the entries. The
first place winner, Liza Wemakor, received a cash prize
of $250.00, the second place winner, Charles L. Eaddy,
received a cash prize of $150.00, and the third place winner,
Ce’Darius Glaze, received a cash prize of $50.00. The
Committee also presented an honorable mention prize.
These prizes were presented by the Atlanta Bar at the Bar
Center in Atlanta during a statewide Bar Leadership Institute
on Friday, April 27, 2012.
Students from both Georgia State University School of
Law and John Marshall School of Law were instrumental in
2012 Legislative Session - Final Report
The 2012 Legislative Session adjourned on March 29.
The Bar succeeded in achieving a high percentage
of its legislative agenda. Of note, HB 1176, Criminal
Justice Reform; HB 397, the Open Records Act;
HB 46, the Uniform Interstate Depositions and
Discovery Act; and SB 383, International Commercial
Arbitration Code, all passed. Funding was also
secured for indigent defense. The entire list of bills
is detailed in the Final Legislative Report found on
the Legislative Program webpage.: http://www.
gabar.org/committeesprogramssections/programs/
leg/index.cfm
This was taken from the website of the
State Bar of Georgia and used with permission.
16
THE ATLANTA LAWYER
May 2012
meeting the needs of the Law Day Committee. Associate
Dean of Students, Sheryl Harrison, worked tirelessly to get
students at John Marshall to donate their time to speak to
high school students about the essay contest.
In addition to the Essay Contest, Melody Z. Richardson,
co-chair of the Law Day Committee and Managing Member of
Pachman Richardson, LLC, and Aisha Blanchard-Collins,
an attorney with Pachman Richardson, LLC, worked with 15
students at Therrell Law High School who volunteered to
participate in a Law Day Mock Trial. The students presented
the trial of State of Columbus vs. Chris Archer in their mock
trial courtroom on May 1. The Honorable Gail S. Tusan,
Judge, Superior Court of Fulton County, presided over the
trial. The students who watched the trial were broken into
groups of 12 to act as jury panels and had an opportunity
to render their verdicts at the conclusion of the case. The
mock trial team was made up of a terrific group of students
who were excited to take part in the mock trial. Therrell Law
High School was named a community partner of the Atlanta
Bar Association in 1987, and the administration is thrilled
that the Law Day Mock Trial was the first time the students
used the school’s new mock trial courtroom. James Timothy
White, Steven Wagner and Ashlyn Shockley also helped
coach the students.
W. Clay Massey, co-chair of the Law Day Committee and a
partner at Alston & Bird, LLP, organized a group of lawyers
and law students to perform Cinderella v. Estate of Padre
Mia Tremaine at Gideons Elementary and Karen Fultz, an
attorney with Cozen O’Connor, spearheaded a group of
lawyers and law students to perform State vs. Delphinia Rose
Sweetpea for Young Middle School. Students who watched
the presentations had the opportunity to ask questions after
the performance and received Law Day memorabilia such
as pens, pencils and jelly beans.
The Family Law Section also partnered with the Law Day
Committee and the Judges of the Fulton County Superior
Court Family Division to produce a short video to be shown
at town hall meetings Judge Tusan, Judge Lane and Judge
Campbell will be hosting. The video will show those who
attend the town hall meetings what to do and what not to do
at a 30-Day Status Conference. The focus of the town hall
meetings ݥ