Fifth graders from San Martin/Gwinn Environmental Science Academy witnessed firsthand the legal proceedings conducted at the South County Courthouse during an Oct. 26 class trip led by Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Johnny Gogo.
Students got the full experience of a courtroom visit, entering through metal detectors with deputies seeing them through, waiting in the jury sequestering room for instructions from Gogo and then sitting in the audience of the two functioning courtrooms at the South County Courthouse, which is located at 301 Diana Avenue just outside downtown Morgan Hill..
They even got some special treatment from Judge Le Jacqueline Duong, who allowed the students to sit in the jury stand, at the defense and prosecution tables, at the witness stand and even at the judge’s seat. A second group was welcomed into Judge Edward Lee’s courtroom upstairs.
It was all part of the D.A.’s Law Related Education (LRE) program, which is designed to give fifth graders a positive and interactive experience with the justice system.
The LRE program involves sending attorneys to visit fifth grade classrooms to help students learn about the concepts of justice, authority and responsibility. Gogo visited fifth graders in San Martin earlier this month to do just that. Following the school site visit, students go on a field trip to the local courthouses where they get to meet judges and attorneys that represent the judiciary and executive branches of American government.
“Our LRE program not only provides the students an opportunity to understand our justice system and see how it works first hand, but it also provides an opportunity for our Deputy District Attorneys to provide positive mentorship for our youth and to help build bridges with our community,” according to the LRE’s description.
The LRE program has been offered for more than 20 years and Gogo has participated over the last 15 years.
“As the Community Prosecutor assigned to South County, it was one of my goals to bring our LRE program to Morgan Hill and the fifth graders at San Martin/Gwinn Elementary will be the first group from MHUSD to officially take part,” Gogo said.
