Students learned about the justice system by staging a mock trial involving a fictitious character, Johnny Smith, and his crime of Possessing Drugs on School Grounds. The trials, which took place at the Plaquemines Parish Courthouse, Pointe a la Hache, LA and the Louisiana Supreme Court/4th Circuit Court of Appeal, New Orleans, LA, placed students in the shoes of prosecutors, defense attorneys, bailiff, court clerk, witnesses, victim and defendant. Presiding over the trials were 4th Circuit Court Judge Joy Lobrano and Judge Dale Atkins, and 25th Judicial District Court Judge Kevin Conner. The successful program was started in the year 2000 by Judge Joy Lobrano and has been continued by District Attorney Charles Ballay.
The goal of the program is designed to help students recognize and analyze potential consequences of the difficult decisions students face during adolescence and beyond. By focusing on peer pressure, responsibility, self-respect, self-control, and self-esteem, Project L. E. A. D. gives students the tools necessary to avoid many of the pitfalls and traps that often lead to delinquent conduct and criminal activity. It is our hope that students will continue to strive to make good and responsible decisions, to think of consequences of actions and inactions, to respect others, and to obey the laws of the land.
The L.E.A.D. (Legal Enrichment And Decision-making) curriculum includes fact patterns in which the characters approach various moral and legal crossroads. These are designed to illustrate how easy it can sometimes be to step over the line without even being aware of it. These fact patterns provide an interesting basis for class discussion. Students read aloud the parts in these scenarios, thus preparing for the mock trial which is the culmination of the L.E.A.D. classes.
Project L.E.A.D. is taught to every 6th grader in our parish by one of the 5 Assistant District Attorneys in the DA’s Office as well as a parish attorney. Phoenix Middle held their mock trial on April 26, 2024 at the Plaquemines Parish Courthouse before the Honorable Judge Kevin Conner. Assistant District Attorney Sarah Tesvich was their L.E.A.D. teacher. Our Lady of Perpetual Help and South Plaquemines Elementary performed their mock trial together at the 4th Circuit Court of Appeal before the Honorable Judge Dale Atkins. Assistant District Attorney Mary Touzet was OLPH’s L.E.A.D. teacher and Assistant District Attorney Temia Griffin was the L.E.A.D. teacher for the S. Plaq. 6th graders. Attorney Avery Riley was the L.E.A.D. teacher for Boothville-Venice Elementary and their mock trial was performed before the Honorable Joy Lobrano at the Louisiana Supreme Court.
