Constitutional Rights Foundation Orange County

CRF-OC IS A NON-PARTISAN, NON-PROFIT EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING ORANGE COUNTY YOUTH TO BE ACTIVE, RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS THROUGH HIGH-QUALITY, INTERACTIVE CIVIC AND LAW RELATED EDUCATION PROGRAMS THAT CONNECT STUDENT DIRECTLY WITH VOLUNTEER PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS.

MOCK TRIAL COMBINES PERFORMANCE-BASED, LAW-RELATED EDUCATION WITH TOURNAMENT-STYLE, ACADEMIC COMPETITION. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, WORKING IN TEAMS UNDER THE CAREFUL GUIDANCE AND SUPERVISION OF VOLUNTEER ATTORNEY COACHES AND TEACHERS, ANALYZE THE FACTS OF A HYPOTHETICAL CRIMINAL COURT CASE, PREPARE TRIAL STRATEGY, AND ENACT EVERY ROLE IN THE TRIAL PROCEEDINGS, EITHER AS MEMBERS OF THE PROSECUTION OR DEFENSE. THE TEAMS PRESENT THEIR CASES IN REAL OR VIRTUAL COURTROOMS BEFORE SITTING JUDGES AND ARE SCORED BY VOLUNTEER ATTORNEYS. ALL TEAMS PARTICIPATE IN AT LEAST FOUR ROUNDS OF COMPETITION. STUDENTS DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND DEVELOP CRITICAL THINKING, ANALYTICAL REASONING, COMMUNICATION, AND TEAM BUILDING SKILLS.

PEER COURT IS A UNIQUE JUVENILE CRIME DIVERSION PROGRAM THAT OFFERS BOTH A SECOND CHANCE TO FIRST-TIME JUVENILE OFFENDERS WHO HAVE COMMITTED NON-VIOLENT MISDEMEANORS AND A VALUABLE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE TO ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ORANGE COUNTY. PEER COURT SESSIONS ARE CURRENTLY HELD VIRTUALLY WITH STUDENTS FROM ACROSS ORANGE COUNTY. AT EACH SESSION, A SITTING JUDGE PRESIDES, ATTORNEYS ADVISE, AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DESIGNATED AS "JURORS" ASSESS THE CASES PRESENTED AND ASSIGN APPROPRIATE SANCTIONS. STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE IMPORTANCE OF MAKING RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS.

LAW DAY CONFERENCE ANNUALLY BRINGS TOGETHER 600 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, JUDGES, ATTORNEYS, AND TEACHERS ON THE CAMPUS OF CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY'S FOWLER SCHOOL OF LAW OR VIRTUALLY TO DISCUSS AND DEBATE TOPICAL LEGAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES OF RELEVANCE TO THE STUDENT DEMOGRAPHIC. WORKSHOPS MODERATED BY LEADING EXPERTS IN RELEVANT FIELDS PROVIDE A LIVELY AND ENGAGING FORUM IN WHICH STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO DISCUSS AND DEBATE THEIR OPINIONS ON THE ISSUES. PAST TOPICS EXPLORED EVIDENCE CAPTURED BY HIDDEN CAMERAS AND MICROPHONES, ACTUAL CRIMINAL RIGHTS COMPARED TO THOSE SHOWN ON TELEVISION, PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION VERSUS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM, AND PRIVACY ON SOCIAL MEDIA.CONSTITUTION DAY COMPLIES WITH FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT MANDATES REQUIRING EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS ACCEPTING PUBLIC FUNDS TO CELEBRATE CONSTITUTION DAY. CRF-OC PROVIDES AN OUTREACH PROGRAM, PLACING VOLUNTEER JUDGES AND ATTORNEYS IN 8TH AND 12TH GRADE CLASSROOMS ACROSS ORANGE COUNTY FOR INTERACTIVE PRESENTATIONS. THIS YEAR'S PROGRAM FOCUSED ON THE FIRST AMENDMENT AND FREEDOM OF THE PRESS FOR THE TWELFTH GRADE PROGRAM AND THE ROLE OF THE JUDICIARY IN THE 8TH GRADE PROGRAM. ORANGE COUNTY CAREER FORUM ANNUALLY CONNECTS NEARLY 1,000 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH A WIDE DIVERSITY OF PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. STUDENTS FROM ACROSS ORANGE COUNTY COME TOGETHER ON THE CAMPUS OF ORANGE COAST COLLEGE OR VIRTUALLY TO ATTEND WORKSHOPS THAT EXPOSE THEM TO CAREERS IN SUCH DIVERSE FIELDS AS LAW ENFORCEMENT, MEDICINE AND ADVANCED MANUFACTURING, AS WELL AS IMPORTANT LIFE SKILLS SUCH AS PREPARING FOR A SUCCESSFUL JOB INTERVIEW. THE PROGRAM IS ORGANIZED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ORANGE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND ORANGE COAST COLLEGE.MOOT COURT IS DESIGNED AS AN ORAL ADVOCACY PROGRAM SIMILAR TO THE FORMAT OF SPEECH AND DEBATE. MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE GIVEN A SET OF FACTS THAT RAISE A LEGAL ISSUE. USING A CLOSED LIBRARY OF CASES, STUDENTS PRESENT AN ARGUMENT AS TO WHY THE COURT SHOULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE IN THEIR FAVOR. WINNERS FROM EACH SCHOOL ADVANCE TO THE COUNTY FINALS IN REAL COURTROOMS OR VIRTUALLY WITH JUDGES PRESIDING OVER THE PROCEEDINGS.