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FRAMINGHAM – Culminating an 11-week program in which middle schools partnered with legal mentors from law offices, law schools, and state offices, Framingham students presented their cases about the 4th Amendment at an in-person mock trial at the Framingham District Court.  

The Framingham students conducted their hour-long trials to determine the outcome of a Fourth Amendment case centered around a school’s search of a student’s electronic device. The case involves a school principal finding more than they expected when searching a suspected student’s cell phone. 

“Our Mock Trial program prepares our students to steward and engage on important issues in our democracy,” said Matt Wilson, Executive Director of Discovering Justice. “This fall the students in Framingham and across the Commonwealth had the unique opportunity to learn about their personal rights from lawyers, examine the workings of the justice system, and explore and question the ideals of justice.”

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Discovering Justice is a civic education non-profit that provides after-school programs as well as in-school civics and social studies curriculum for K-12 students across Massachusetts. Taught by experienced legal mentors, students in the Mock Trial Program grapple with real constitutional issues, develop persuasive arguments, and practice questioning and examining witnesses.

This Fall, 29 middle schools across the Commonwealth participated in the Discovering Justice Mock Trial Program, the most schools in the program’s history.

Statewide, the program serves more than 350 students with the help of more than 150 volunteer attorneys and 40 state and federal judge.

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Editor’s Note: In full transparency, the photos and press release were submitted to SOURCE media for publication.

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By editor

Susan Petroni is the former editor for SOURCE. She is the founder of the former news site, which as of May 1, 2023, is now a self-publishing community bulletin board. The website no longer has a journalist but a webmaster.