Last Friday, 58 classrooms throughout the state, including four Johnston classes, received visits by Rhode Island judges and lawyers to discuss law-related issues with the students.
The visits were part of the Rhode Island observance of national Law Day. The Rhode Island Law Day Committee, representing the Rhode Island Bar Association, the Rhode Island Judiciary, the Rhode Island Police Chief’s Association, the Rhode Island Department of Education and the Roger Williams University School of Law, and chaired by Supreme Court Associate Justice Gilbert V. Indeglia, produced the speaking engagements by judges and lawyers in high school and middle school classrooms.
This year’s national Law Day theme, designated by the American Bar Association, was The 14th Amendment: Transforming American Democracy.
According to Rhode Island Bar Association President Armando E. Batastini, “In this age of issues regarding gender identity, marriage equality and the rights of illegal immigrants to due process, education and discussion regarding the Fourteenth Amendment are as important and timely as ever.”
In addition to the visits, there were also two special presentations discussing the book Just Mercy, organized in coordination with Reading Across Rhode Island. Those special programs looked at how the book’s themes of proximity, understanding, and justice relate to the Fourteenth Amendment.
The Honorable George T. Salem of the RI Workers’ Compensation Court and Edward Pepe, Esq., visited Michael DiMichele’s classroom at St. Rocco School. Judges Sandra A. Lanni of the R.I. Family Court and Robert M. Ferrieri of the R.I. Workers’ Compensation Court, along with lawyers Vincent DiMonte, Esq. and Mary Cavanagh Dunn, Esq., visited Columbia Fleming and Melissa Horton’s Ferri Middle School classrooms. Lawyer Bruce Wolpert, Esq., and Judge Michael B. Forte of the R.I. Family Court visited Carol Iovino class at the Johnston Senior High School.
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