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Contest gives city students a better understanding of the legal system

Judge Craig Doran
James Brown WXXI
Judge Craig Doran

A dozen middle schoolers in the Rochester City School District have won an essay contest about the justice system. The contest was held by J.U.S.T. L.A.W., an initiative founded by the City of Rochester, WDKX, the Rochester City School District and the Rochester Black Bar Association.. The goal is to promote a better understanding between court officials and city youth.

The 12 winners were chosen from nearly 500 city students who sent an essay to J.U.S.T. L.A.W. on the topic was “what does justice mean to me?”

Judge Craig Doran of the 7th Judicial District helped launch the program. He hopes this experience leads the kids to work with him someday.

“There’s nothing more important than doing things to encourage young people to seek careers in their government, in public service, in their justice system,” said Doran.

Doran also hopes J.U.S.T. L.A.W. helps the kids get a better understanding of the justice system.

“This also gives us a way to show the community how important their trust is to us,” Doran said. “How much we want, not just young people, but their families to trust the justice that is delivered in this building.”

Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren addresses the J.U.S.T L.A.W. essay contest winners.
Credit James Brown WXXI
Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren addresses the J.U.S.T L.A.W. essay contest winners.

Prizes for the winning students included cash, new tablets, and the opportunity to read their essays in front of Rochester Mayor Lovely Warren, Interim RCSD Superintendent Dan Lowengard and a room full of onlookers at the Hall of Justice.

“We’re going to continue to do this for years to come,” Doran said. “It accomplishes so many objectives for us in this building. Showing these folks a path from where they are in middle school to hopefully working in this building.”

James Brown is a reporter with WXXI News. James previously spent a decade in marketing communications, while freelance writing for CITY Newspaper. While at CITY, his reporting focused primarily on arts and entertainment.