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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Washington Courts and Council on Public Legal Education Awarded Federal Grant for Development of Youth CourtsSeattle, Washington, September 26, 2001 – The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and the Council on Public Legal Education, which operates under the auspices of the Washington State Bar Association, announce that they have recently been awarded a $15,000 grant from the Youth for Justice Program of the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. This grant will be used for the professional development of instructors of youth-court volunteers. This is the third major activity undertaken by the Council on Public Legal Education to launch and support youth courts in Washington. Youth courts (also known as teen courts) are programs in which youth sentence their peers with a fair and appropriate sentence after individuals have admitted their guilt. Typically, youth courts serve as diversion programs for first-time misdemeanor, nonviolent offenders 12-18 years old. Participation in the program is voluntary, and parental consent is required. Young people participate in every aspect of the court process, with roles as prosecuting and defense attorneys, jurors, court clerks, bailiffs, and sometimes judge. There are currently 11 youth courts operating in the state, with an additional 10 courts in the implementation stages. The AOC and the Council on Public Legal Education will present the national youth court curriculum developed by the American Bar Association to those involved in instructing the youth volunteers, including judges, attorneys, youth, teachers, community members and law-enforcement officials. The first of two professional development days is scheduled for November 3, 2001 at the Seattle University School of Law. Those interested in attending the program should contact Margaret Fisher, chair of the youth court committee, at 206-329-2690 for further information. Created in 2000, the Council on Public Legal Education is currently housed at the Washington State Bar Association. Its 30-plus members include lawyers, judges, educators, elected officials, journalists and community representatives. The council's mission is to ensure that the people of Washington have the knowledge they need to participate effectively in the justice system and government. The council is pursuing this mission by creating, coordinating and encouraging many kinds of legal education programs ranging from a media resource guide to teacher training workshops to a comprehensive law-related Web site for the general public. The council is co-chaired by Judge Marlin J. Appelwick, Court of Appeals, and Judith Billings, former State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Youth for Justice is a national initiative that uses the power of active learning about the law to build upon the vitality of young people, and to address the risks of being young in America today. Over one million students participate in Youth for Justice Programs each year. The Washington State Bar Association is a private, nonprofit organization authorized by the Washington Supreme Court to license the state's 26,500 lawyers. The WSBA both regulates lawyers under the authority of the Court and serves its members as a professional association — all without public funding. As a regulatory agency, it administers the bar exam, provides record-keeping and licensing functions, and administers the lawyer discipline program. As a professional association, the WSBA provides continuing legal education for attorneys, in addition to numerous other educational and member service activities. |