LYNN — The Greater Lynn Bar Association, Lynn District Court, and Lynn Juvenile Court celebrated Law Day by hosting students from St. Mary’s, Lynn Classical, Lynn English, and Fecteau-Leary at Lynn District Court on Wednesday.
First, the students were given a tour of the court. They got to walk in and out of cells — sometimes accidentally getting locked in them — and see the control room center, where all the security cameras are located.
Lynn Attorney James J. Carrigan then welcomed the students, faculty, local officials, and members of the court, who filled the entirety of the second courtroom together.
He thanked Lynn District Court First Justice Hon. Ina Howard-Hogan and Essex Juvenile Court Associate Justice Hon. Kathryn Phelan-Brown for making the event possible.
“A lot of people put a lot of hard work into this,” Carrigan said. “And they should all be proud.”
Juvenile Court Chief Justice Hon. Amy Nechtem and District Court Chief Justice Hon. Stacey J. Fortes both spoke on Law Day and the importance of voices in democracy, which was the theme for this year’s event.
Nechtem noted that this year’s theme could not have been any more timely and said it is essential for students to understand what democracy means.
She also mentioned that the students would be able to hear from members of all of the court’s departments, and perhaps even see themselves filling one of those roles one day.
Fortes then gave an example, recalling that she once visited a Marshall Middle School sixth-grade class and asked the students to raise their hands if they were interested in becoming lawyers. She noted that only one student did.
Her presentation to the class that day, Fortes said, had been about the disadvantages she had growing up and the resilience it took for her to get to her role now, leaving the students with the message that anything is possible for anyone.
Fortes said that her message would go on to inspire that sixth grader, who has just finished her third law year of law school.
She and the student also took a picture that day for The Item, which the student told Fortes is still hanging on her fridge.
“And I hope you all take that message away with you, too,” Fortes said to the students on Wednesday.
Mayor Jared Nicholson also spoke, thanking those who serve in the justice system. He also encouraged the students to think about what’s next.
“And a part of that, that is imperative, is not just doing the work, but also thinking about the long term,” Nicholson said. “And think about what comes next. Who’s going to fill these roles?'”
Superintendent Evonne Alvarez also asked the students if they want to be part of the justice system in some way.
“There’s so many roles you can take, and it’s all possible,” she said.
She ended by reminding the students that there is always someone in the community who can help them get where they want to be.
“When you walk away from here today, and you continue to think about the legal system… pursue it,” Alvarez said. “There’s always an adult or someone in your school or family that can support you to make sure you can do that.”
Students were then able to get some practice by participating in two lively mock trials.
Following the event, Howard-Hogan, Carrigan, Phelan-Brown, Nicholson, retired Judge Hon. Robert Cornetta, and Attorneys Jackson Christian, Tom Demakis, Mike Merriam, Marc Salinas, Frank Grealish, Tim Phelan, Marc Chapdelaine, Chris Cornetta, Sam Vitali, Tristan Smith, Joe Sano, Anne Gugino Carrigan, Carly McClain, and AJ Capano visited schools in the city to teach even more students about the justice system.
