Five Counties Prepare for High School Moot Court & Mock Trial Competition

The Center for Youth Citizenship's (CYC) Gordon D. Schaber (GDS) Law Program is a model school and legal community partnership providing schools and communities in five counties (El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, and Yolo) with service, leadership, moot court and mock trial activities. These activities increase the understanding of the law and our judicial system. In its 27th year, the GDS Law Program brings area youth valuable connections to the local legal community, opportunities for future career exploration and the chance to develop the academic, service, and leadership skills needed by our young citizens. This year's culminating events are scheduled for January 24, 26, and 28, 2006 at the Gordon D. Schaber Downtown Courthouse and the Final Round and Community Awards & Recognition Ceremony will be held on February 9, 2006.

Volunteer leaders from the legal community are needed to assist with coaching student teams and judging competition rounds. Attorney coaches are needed to assist teacher coaches and their teams in preparing legal arguments for the moot court and mock trial events. Individuals serving in the role of attorney coach will share their legal expertise with their student teams by volunteering approximately 25 hours between October and January. Volunteer judges are needed for approximately 3 8 hours during the week of January 24 28, 2006. Presiding judges are needed to oversee competition rounds, while scoring judges are needed to assess how effectively the teams have prepared and presented their legal arguments.

This model educational program is conducted in partnership and with the support of United States District Court & United States Attorney's Office, Eastern District of California; California Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District; Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento; Sacramento County District Attorney's & Public Defender's Offices; Sacramento County Bar Association and Law Foundation; Sacramento area law firms and legal organizations; Sacramento County Office of Education; and Sacramento area schools and districts.

Gordon D. Schaber was a community mentor and leader in the Sacramento area, as well as a longstanding member of the Board of Trustees of the Center for Youth Citizenship. The Sacramento County courthouse was also renamed in recognition of his many contributions.

The Center for Youth Citizenship is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1984. For additional information regarding the Gordon D. Schaber Law Program and other model CYC Character-Based CitizenshipTM programs, please visit www.youthcitizenship.org, email cyc@scoe.net or call (916)228-2322.

November / December 2005