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

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

High school students were selected by their schools to represent their classmates at the State House as state senators, house representatives, constitutional officers, and justices of the Supreme Judicial Court.

The day began with activities at the State House, where students learned about the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial Branches of government. Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Kimberly S. Budd addressed the students on behalf of the Judicial Branch.

“I am inspired every day by my colleagues in the judiciary and by those who work in the other branches of government who are there to carry out that same mission,” said Chief Justice Budd. “I am inspired by seeing all of you here today. Your interest and commitment to learning more about how your local government works gives me confidence in our next generation of leaders. Perhaps what you see today will inspire you to choose to work in the government. You could be a legislator, mayor, clerk, city councilor, governor, judge or a lot of different things.”

The students then spent the afternoon at the John Adams Courthouse where they learned about the state judiciary and the appellate process from Supreme Judicial Court Associate Justice Serge Georges, Jr.; Supreme Judicial Court Clerk for the Commonwealth Francis V. Kenneally; and Supreme Judicial Court Clerk for Suffolk County Maura S. Doyle. Wendy Lement, Supreme Judicial Court Director of Education and Public Programs, led the students on a tour of the courthouse. The students ended the day with a pizza lunch with Supreme Judicial Court law clerks who are assigned to work with the Justices.

Students from the following ten schools participated in Student Government Day at the court:

• Boston College High School (Boston)
• Claremont Academy (Worcester)
• Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School (Hathorne)
• Leicester High School (Leicester)
• Mashpee Middle High School (Mashpee)
• Norfolk County Agricultural High School (Walpole)
• Norwood High School (Norwood)
• Pioneer Valley Regional School (Northfield)
• Somerset Berkley Regional High School (Somerset)
• Springfield High School of Science & Technology (Springfield)

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.

###