Posted: February 17, 2016
Students Can Learn What It’s Like to be a Judge for a Day
Salt Lake City —The Utah State Courts are planning the 11th Annual “Judge for a Day,” program in recognition of Law Day, which will be celebrated on May 2, 2016. On May 1, 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed the first Law Day as a day of national dedication to the principle of government under law.
Utah high school students are selected to participate in the program based on an essay, civic involvement resume or teacher nomination letter. For students who choose to write an essay the Law Day theme is “Miranda: More than Words.” The words, “you have a right to remain silent,” have become ingrained in popular U.S. culture, but there is more to these constitutional protections. The Law Day theme allows an opportunity to explore a citizen’s rights when taken into police custody.
Students selected to participate in the program will be paired with a judge in one of the state’s eight judicial districts for one day in either April or May. The students will be given a behind-the-scenes look at court operations, which include observing court proceedings and a judge at work.
Students are asked to submit an application form by March 14, 2015. Application forms and additional information are available on the court’s Web site at legacy.utcourts.gov/media/lawday.