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Court Information Office
Robert C. Murphy Courts of Appeal Building
361 Rowe Boulevard
Annapolis, Maryland
410-260-1488
NEWS RELEASE CONTACT: 
Sally Rankin    410-260-1488
First Lady to Offer Advice to High Schoolers 
in “Schools in the Courts” Program
 
 (Annapolis, MD— November 8, 2004)  More than 100 juniors and seniors from Anne Arundel County Schools will take a front-row seat to the state’s justice system in Anne Arundel District Court in Annapolis on Wednesday, November 10. As participants in the Maryland Judiciary’s “Schools in the Courts” program, the students will watch actual defendants on trial before District Court Judge Vincent A. Mulieri during the three-hour program.

First Lady of Maryland Kendel Ehrlich will address the 125 students from Broadneck, South River, and Meade high schools. “Schools in the Courts,” which Judge Mulieri created in spring of 2001, educates students about the real consequences of making the wrong choices – namely drinking and driving, use of drugs, and other crimes.

“Many of these young people are finding new opportunities, especially as they start to drive. We want to encourage them to make the right decisions so we don’t see them return to this courtroom as defendants,” said Judge Mulieri, who organizes two program sessions each year. “‘Schools in the Courts’ helps students realize that one bad decision can change their life – and the lives of their family and friends – forever.”

After watching live, unscripted criminal cases, the students will learn about the requirements of probation and the financial burden of being convicted of drunk driving from Harold Rohrback, Jr., of the Drinking Driving Monitor Program. Former convicted drunk drivers will provide sobering comments about the choices they made. The students will also be able to ask questions of District Court Chief Judge James N. Vaughan.

The program will begin at 9 a.m. and end around noon. Members of the media are encouraged to attend. Please contact the Court Information Office at 410/260-1488 if you want to attend or have questions about when and where cameras will be permitted.
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