Community July 10, 2008
The Verdict is In: Daniels Students Enjoy Mock Trial Experience
For the second year, employees from the hospital’s Legal and Risk Services, Community and Government Relations and Marketing and Communications departments recently worked with students from New Haven’s John C. Daniels School to stage a mock trial.
Attorneys from local law firms and the New Haven Bar Association Public Service Committee also helped prepare the students for trial. The would-be lawyers, defendants and plaintiffs argued the case, The United States vs. Paul Bunyan, before Superior Court Judge Antonio C. Robaina at the New Haven Federal District Court in New Haven, who volunteered his time for the second consecutive year.
Over the course of several weeks, volunteers worked with the students coaching them for their courtroom roles that also included witnesses, bailiffs, court clerks and jurors. YNHH has had a partnership with the Daniels school since September 2006 which includes reading and mentoring programs and special projects, such as the mock trial.
“The Daniels students were energetic and eager to learn about court-room procedures,” said Bill Aseltyne, YNHH vice president and general counsel. “The mock trial also helps them improve reading and public speaking skills.”
José L. Crespo, a clerk in Legal and Risk Services who last summer was a New Haven Youth @Work intern, translated part of the trial into Spanish. “Working with the students on this project was a great experience,” he said. “I feel as if I learned right along with them and hope to be a part of the project again.”
In the trial, Paul Bunyan and his ox were accused of breaking federal laws by cutting down forest trees without permission. Bunyan’s defense was that he razed the trees for public use. For the record, Bunyan and his ox were found “not liable.”
Article originally appeared in the July 10, 2008 issue of the Bulletin employee newsletter (page 10)
http://www.ynhh.org/bulletin_archive/2008/071008_bulletin.pdf
