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Appellate Court on Tour at
New Haven's Wilbur Cross High School
The
Honorable Lubbie Harper Jr. will
return to his alma mater on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2006, when the
Appellate Court on Tour program visits Wilbur Cross High School
in New Haven. During the visit, Judge Harper,
Judge Chase
Rogers and Judge Douglas Lavine will hear oral arguments in two
criminal cases.
“The visit to Wilbur Cross is a great way to educate
students about our appellate court system” said Judge Harper,
who graduated from Wilbur Cross in 1961. “As important, the
visit also is a way for me, as an African-American, to give back
to my community and serve as a role model. I want these kids to
know that they can succeed, that they don’t have to be put down
by poor choices, bad luck or society’s problems.”
He added: “The greatest honor for me would be to
return to Wilbur Cross 20 years from now and see one of these
young men or women on stage, sitting as an Appellate Court
judge, hearing a case.”
Earlier this year, Judge Harper suggested that the
Appellate Court visit Wilbur Cross as part of the court’s
ongoing tour program. He thanked both the New Haven County Bar
Association and the New Haven school system for all of the work
they’ve done in preparing for the visit.
“I
am thrilled and honored that Judge Harper and his distinguished
colleagues are coming to
Wilbur Cross,” Principal Robert Canelli said. “The event is a
great learning experience for our students.”
Bar Association President Joseph L. Rini, an
attorney, noted: “We are very pleased to have been asked by
Judge Harper to participate in this extraordinary program by
providing attorneys to explain the cases and the appellate
process to the students prior to the hearings. We look forward
to undertaking more projects with the courts and with the
schools.”
Attorneys who helped organize the event are Carolyn
Kone of Brenner, Saltzman & Wallman, Stephen Rosenberg of Murtha
Cullina, and Rachel Mandel of Tyler Cooper.
The public is invited to the arguments, and students
from other area schools also are expected to attend. The first
case, State of Connecticut vs. Charlie Santiago, involves
a murder conviction stemming from a slaying in Bridgeport. Arguments will go from 9:40-10:20 a.m.
The second case, out of Naugatuck, is
State of Connecticut vs. Kenneth Wells. That case
involves convictions for attempt to commit first-degree assault
and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault. Arguments will
go from 10:40-11:20 a.m.
Lawyers in the cases will be available after the arguments to
answer questions from students. In addition, Yale Law School
Professor Ronald Sullivan, University of Connecticut Law School
Professor Timothy Everett and Attorney Tara Knight will serve as
guest panelists. News organizations may record, broadcast,
televise and/or photograph all or part of these
question-and-answer periods.
If a news organization wishes to
broadcast, televise, record or photograph the actual arguments
before the court, it must file a written request with the
appellate court clerk (fax number 860-757-2217). The news
organization also must send a certified copy of the written
request to each counsel in the cases. If the request is
granted, only one television camera, still camera and audio
system will be allowed into the arguments.
For further information, please contact Rhonda
Stearley-Hebert, manager of communications, Connecticut Judicial
Branch, at 860-757-2270.
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