Teens to discuss internet dangers and predators at Annual Youth Law Fair  

WHO:  DC judges and lawyers host area high school students 
 
WHAT: Ninth Annual Youth Law Fair  

Theme:  Internet Issues- Dangers of Social Networking and Blogs 
 
WHERE: Moultrie Courthouse   500 Indiana Avenue, NW 
 
WHEN: Saturday, March 8, 2008 - 9am to 4:15pm  

The DC Courts and the DC Bar Sections Office will sponsor the 9th Annual Youth Law Fair next Saturday at the Moultrie Courthouse.  Hundreds of students from local high schools will participate in mock trials, role-playing as judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, witnesses and jurors.  Local judges and members of the bar will assist them in these roles, providing a learning experience about the law, the criminal justice system and legal aspects as it applies to the internet.  The mock trials will cover the criminal issues surrounding information put in blogs or on social networking sites.  First thing in the day (10am) and at the conclusion (3pm) there will be ‘speak out sessions’ to allow discussion among teens on the topics of personal responsibility over information put in blogs, risks and benefits of social sites such as mySpace, and other internet concerns and uses.  [Note:  Photos of participating teens may be taken during two speakout sessions and during the mock trials.] 
 
The goal of the Youth Law Fair is to allow students to discuss legal issues relevant to their lives, to enhance their knowledge of the court system, and to educate them about careers in the law.  Over 2,000 local students have participated since the inception of the event in 2000.  All area high school students are welcome.  For more information, see www.dcbar.org/youthlawfair. 
 

PRESS NOTE:  To bring a still or television camera, or an audio recorder, into the courthouse for the limited purpose of covering this event, contact Leah Gurowitz in advance at (202) 879-1700.