SIDEBAR Summer 2019 - 24

MONTGOMERYBAR.ORG

SIDEBAR FEATURE

MBA Diversity Committee
Hosts a Day in Court

T

he MBA's Diversity Committee hosted the
eighth annual Day in Court program on
Thursday, May 23, 2019 at the Montgomery
County Courthouse. 63 students from Abington
Junior High School's VIBE and IMAGINE program
participated in this year's event.
In the morning, the Honorable Wendy G. Rothstein
welcomed the group of students into her courtroom
to observe live court proceedings. Afterwards, Judge
Rothstein entertained questions from the students about
court procedure.
Students were then given the opportunity to
meet with the following members of the local legal
community:
* Todd N. Barnes, Esq. - Montgomery County Assistant
District Attorney
* Dean M. Beer, Esq. - Montgomery County Chief Public
Defender
* Hon. Gregory Scott - Judge, Magisterial District Court
38-2-09
* Mark Talbot - Chief of Police, Norristown Police
Department
Each speaker shared their success stories, as well as lessons
learned along the way. While each speaker's road to success was
unique, their stories shared a common thread - the value of hard
work, courage and perseverance in achieving your dream.
The students then enjoyed lunch at One Montgomery Plaza,
where they were joined by Montgomery County Commissioner
Joe Gale and Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas
Judges Garrett D. Page and Steven C. Tolliver, Sr.

24 SIDEBAR

Montgomery County Assistant Solicitor Lauren A. Hughes,
Esq., Co-Vice Chair of the MBA Diversity Committee,
organized the event with the guidance of program founder and
past organizer Marilou Watson, Esq. (Fox Rothschild, LLP). Ms.
Hughes noted of the students: "I was amazed by their level of
professionalism and attentiveness. They asked dynamic questions
in response to what they observed." Ms. Hughes wasn't the only
one impressed. "Every speaker truly enjoyed the students, even
offering to share their contact information should the students
want to speak further," she remarked.
The PBA award-winning Day in Court program is part of
the Montgomery Bar Association's efforts to promote diversity
within the legal community. Other initiatives include the
Robert E. Slota, Jr. Summer 1L Internship program for diverse
first year law students. In the fall, members of Montgomery Bar
Association's Diversity Committee will teach courses in the law
to students at Abington Junior High School.
http://montgomerybar.org
SIDEBAR Summer 2019

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