On Friday, September 20th, the Los Angeles Superior Court (LASC) and PESA came together to train the newest cohort of proctors from Southern Western Law School (SWLS). This three-hour event was spearheaded by Judge Michael D. Carter, Director of the LASC Teen Court Program, Marlow Gory, Community Relations Coordinator, and Araksya Nordikyan, PESA’s Director of Youth Services.
The training offered an in-depth guide on how to support the Teen Court process whether the sessions are virtual or in-person. It also addressed foundational questions like “What is Teen Court?”, “Who are the participants in the program?” and “How can we prepare high school students to become effective jurors?” The organizers shared their own experiences with Teen Court, providing insights and answering questions from the 45 attendees.
Law school students can volunteer as proctors to fulfill pro-bono hours, making this training an essential resource for those eager to contribute to juvenile justice and mentorship. Gory, who helped organize the event, noted, “One thing that really stood out to me was the engagement and enthusiasm from the attendees. I also appreciated the thoughtful questions that helped them better understand their responsibilities as proctors.”
Amongst the attendees was Taylor Richardson, a first-year law student at SWLS. Richardson’s connection to the program runs deep as she served as a student juror for three years at Taft High School, where PESA was actively involved. Reflecting on her journey, she said, “Teen Court is a great way to start alleviating the school-to-prison pipeline. Now that I have more courtroom knowledge, I’m excited to return as a proctor and help disadvantaged youth.”
Richardson also shared how her experience with Teen Court shaped her career aspirations. “Just having the experience of being in those simulated sessions showed me that this is something I can see for myself in the future. It pushed me to do a mock trial at Howard, and now, at Southern Western, I see proctoring as a full-circle moment.”
For Nordikyan, a Teen Court alumni herself, this training held special significance. “In my decade of involvement with the program, I have served in many different capacities but being entrusted to train our proctors this year was an honor,” she said. As a former student juror, proctor, and now a program leader, Nordikyan’s advice to the trainees was both practical and timely, helping them understand the nuances of being a contributor.
This collaboration between PESA, the Los Angeles Superior Court, and South Western Law School is a testament to the importance of public-private partnerships that can create a generational impact.
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