June 4, 2009
Events to Mark Superior Court 150th Anniversary
Widely Attended
More than 6,000 people have participated in recent
activities held statewide as part of the year-long recognition
in 2009 of the Superior Court 150th Anniversary. Events across
the state have been planned by committees in each county comprised
of judges, clerks, court staff, attorneys, and bar representatives.
“Response to the public events has been outstanding,” says
Superior Court Chief Justice Barbara J. Rouse. “The response
is a tribute to the efforts of the planning committees to present
interesting programs throughout the year. All involved have done
a terrific job, which is reflected by the strong participation
and attendance. We look forward to the additional programs scheduled
across the state this year.”
The concentration of events in the past month included
mock trials, trial reenactments, open houses, and panel discussions,
which engaged school children and the general public in positive
discussions on a range of historical and legal topics.
As an example of the enthusiasm surrounding these
activities, Norfolk Superior Court employees created and dressed
in period costume for their open house event and a court officer
prepared a cake replica of the courthouse for the historical
reenactment of the Sacco and Vanzetti trial. Trial Court employees
in every county have brought their individual skills, energy,
and donated personal time to make these events successful.
Education events have involved students of all
ages from around the state. In Barnstable County 2,300 students
viewed and discussed vignettes of criminal and civil cases performed
over three days by the Barnstable High School Drama Club. Students
there also participated in a pictorial postmark competition featuring
the 150th Anniversary.
Bristol County held a law primer for young people
in which a team of local attorneys, experienced educators, and
law students from the Southern New England School of Law discussed
legal issues raised in the 1871 trial of Charles Cuffee. In Hampden
County students from ten high schools competed in a debate series
organized by Hampden County Superior Court judges.
High school students in Plymouth, Franklin, and
Suffolk Counties participated in mock trial competitions. Brockton
High School students created a film featuring a mock arrest on
school grounds followed by a mock suppression hearing. The film
was shown to other students attending the Law Day event and will
appear on the Brockton Cable Access channel.
In Norfolk County judges and attorneys are visiting
and talking to students at a dozen middle and high schools. Suffolk
County will host elementary school students who will perform
Jack and the Beanstalk in one of the courtrooms. Many other events
also have occurred and will continue to take place in counties
throughout the state. The events of the past month are listed
below and the full event calendar and coverage can be viewed here.
Recent 150th Anniversary Events:
April 30
Middlesex County; UMass Lowell
"Justice Examined" panel with Sebastian Junger, author of A Death in
Belmont, F. Lee Bailey, Esq., Judge Kenneth Fishman, and District Attorney Gerard
Leone.
May 1 -- Law Day
Middlesex County; Lowell Superior Courthouse
* Classroom visits
by volunteer lawyers and judges
* Courthouse
tour for eighth-grade group
* Procession
from Juvenile to Superior Courthouse, Recognition of high
school essay contest winners, Historical presentations
* Courthouse
tours for public
Barnstable County; Barnstable Superior Courthouse
Educational and celebratory Law Day event featuring the winners of the
high school art contest to design a pictorial postmark commemorating
the 150th anniversary and a musical program by the Cape Cod Symphony
Orchestra.
Bristol County; Southern New England School
of Law
Team of local attorneys, educators, and law students from the Southern
New England School of Law designed a middle school/high school teaching
unit on the 1871 trial of Charles Cuffee.
Hampden County; Western New England Law School
Debate tournament finals between Central and Chicopee Comprehensive High
Schools held at Western New England Law School and judged by former
Supreme Court Justice John Greaney, Western New England Law School
Dean Arthur Gaudio, and Clerk of the Hampden County Superior Court
Brian Lees.
May 4
Suffolk County; John Adams Courthouse, Social Law Library
Author Stephanie Schorow discusses her book, The Cocoanut Grove Fire,
and the impact the case had on the law of manslaughter in Massachusetts.
May 5
Norfolk County; Norfolk Superior Courthouse, Dedham
Open House, tours, and reception.
May 7
Plymouth County; Plymouth Trial Court
Daytime program for local high school students, afternoon Naturalization
Ceremony, mock trial competition, viewing of mock suppression hearing
film, and historical artifacts display.
Bristol County; Fall River Superior Courthouse
Symposium on the "Big Dan’s" trial with discussion led
by Judge Lloyd Macdonald. Panelists shared thoughts on the administrative,
logistical and strategic adjustments needed for the simultaneous trial
of two complex cases. Discussion also included the court’s management
of competing claims of fair trial and free press and the trial’s
impact on evolving understanding of gender and ethnic stereotyping.
May 12
Hampden County; Westfield State College
Production of The Rivalry, performed by students at Westfield State College
in collaboration with the Hampden County 150th Anniversary Committee
May 13
Norfolk County
Norfolk County Bar Dinner honoring Supreme Court Justice Judith Cowin
with introduction by Chief Justice Barbara Rouse
Bristol County; Southern New England School
of Law, Dartmouth
Panel examines the trial of Charles Cuffee, focusing on Cuffee's lawyer,
William Henry Johnson, the first African-American lawyer in Bristol County,
who was born into slavery, trained to be a jockey, escaped and eventually
settled in New Bedford.
May 14
Plymouth County; Brockton High School
Premiere of film created by Brockton High School students featuring a
student arrest on school grounds and a suppression hearing.
May 15
Suffolk County; SJC Archives
Supreme Judicial Court Archives open house for Superior Court personnel
to demonstrate how early records are maintained and conserved.
May 18, 22 & 29
Norfolk County; School Outreach Programs
Judge Robert Cosgrove at Dedham High School
Judge Barbara Dortch-Okara at Randolph Middle School and Canton High
School
Judge Kenneth Fishman at Stoughton Middle School
May 19
Norfolk County; Dedham Superior Court House
Historical re-enactment of the Sacco and Vanzetti Trial.
May 21
Essex County; Essex County Bar Dinner
Chief Justice Rouse address on the 150th Anniversary at Essex County
Bar Annual Dinner in Lynnfield.
May 22
Franklin County; Open House
* Mock trial
by students of Pioneer Valley Regional High School and Mahar
Regional High School
* Four Rivers
Charter School -- an original drama based on the 1897 Franklin
County murder trial of John “Yank” O’Neil,
the last person executed by hanging in Massachusetts.
* Courthouse
tour conducted by retired Judge Herbert Hodos
* Filmed
interview with retired Judge Samuel Tisdale, the oldest
living Superior Court Judge; Portrait unveiling of refurbished
portrait of Judge Tisdale
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