City
of Rochester
News
Release
(Thursday,
June 2, 2022) – Mayor Malik D. Evans yesterday joined N.Y.
State Supreme Court Justice William K. Taylor, RCSD Superintendent Dr. Lesli
Myers-Small, and other officials at the Hall of Justice to recognize the 12
students who were selected as the 2021-2022 J.U.S.T. L.A.W. Essay Contest
winners.
Justice,Understanding, Societal Trust and Literacy, Attendance,Writing (J.U.S.T. L.A.W) is a collaborative effort between the City, the
7th Judicial District, radio station 103.9 FM WDKX, the Rochester
Black Bar Association, and the Rochester City School District that provides an
opportunity for 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th
graders to interface with judges and other court about the U.S. legal system.
J.U.S.T. L.A.W. kicked off its fourth year of
working with students in February 2022.
Over the course of the program, judges from the 7th
Judicial District visited 16 RCSD schools to present information on how the
justice system works and the role it plays in the community.
Students then had the opportunity to share their own
perspectives and experiences with the justice system, fostering important
dialogue between court officials and participating youth.
Following the school presentations, students were
asked to write a 250-word essay on the topic, “What Justice Means to Me.” More
than 100 essays were judged by the J.U.S.T. L.A.W. executive committee members,
and the top 12 essays were selected as the winners. The program selected 12
winners to mirror the jury selection process and the 12 jurors who play a
critical role in the outcome of a trial.
During the ceremony, each of the 12 honorees recited
their winning essays for the attendees including parents, school principals,
judges, and Hall of Justice employees. As part of their awards package, each
student received special certificates, an Amazon Fire HD8 tablet, a check for
$103.90, and a J.U.S.T. L.A.W. Medal of Honor from the Rochester City School
District.
The 2021-2022 J.U.S.T. L.A.W. student winners are:
Amari
Pugh Dr.
Alice Holloway School #3 8th
grade
Bishop
Ashe Dr. Charles T. Lunsford School #19 8th grade
Eric
Seitzinger, Jr. Wilson
Foundation Academy 6th
grade
India
Williams Dr. Charles T. Lunsford School #19 8th grade
Janiah
Gray Dr.
Alice Holloway School #3 7th
grade
Koryne
Fell Dr.
Alice Holloway School #3 8th
grade
Maya
Adams East Lower School 8th
grade
Nesean
Jones Dr. Charles T. Lunsford School #19 8th grade
Romena
Gurung Dr.
Charles T. Lunsford School #19 8th
grade
Tayia
Demps Francis Parker School #23 6th
grade
Tenney
Murphy School
of the Arts 7th
grade
Zahir
Cerami Francis Parker School #23 6th
grade
For more information on the Just Law program, visit www.cityofrochester.gov/justlaw.
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