Press Release  Student Justices Participate in Student Government Day Activities at Supreme Judicial Court

BOSTON, MA — The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court today hosted thirteen students from seven high schools across the Commonwealth as part of Student Government Day activities.

The students were elected by their classmates to represent them at the State House, and seven of them were assigned as Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court. Six of the students were Justices and one was Chief Justice, with alternates for each of the Justices.

The day began with activities at the State House, where students learned about the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches of government. Appeals Court Associate Justice William J. Meade addressed the students on behalf of the Judicial Branch.

The students then spent the afternoon at the John Adams Courthouse where they learned about the state judiciary and the appellate process from Appeals Court Associate Justice Sydney Hanlon; Supreme Judicial Court Clerk for the Commonwealth Francis V. Kenneally; and First Assistant Clerk Eric Wetzel of the Supreme Judicial Court Clerk's Office for Suffolk County. Cliff Allen, Supreme Judicial Court Director of Education and Public Programs, led the students on a tour of the courthouse. The students then had a pizza lunch with Supreme Judicial Court Law Clerks, who are assigned to work with the Justices.

Students from each of the seven schools below participated in Student Government Day at the court:

• Claremont Academy (Worcester, MA)
• Excel Academy Charter High School (Chelsea and East Boston, MA)
• Millbury Memorial Junior/Senior High School (Millbury, MA)
• Northbridge High School (Whitinsville, MA)
• Somerset Berkley Regional High School (Somerset, MA)
• Tyngsborough High School (Tyngsborough, MA)
• Urban Science Academy (West Roxbury, MA)

Established in 1947, Student Government Day is sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to encourage students to learn about the role and function of the three branches of government through observation and active participation.

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