At Youth Law Fair, Students Get Hands-On Experience on Court Proceedings
May 06, 2025
On May 3 more than 80 high school students got a firsthand look at how D.C. Superior Court operates by participating in the Melvin R. Wright Youth Law Fair, now in its 26th year.
Cosponsored by the D.C. Bar Communities and D.C. Superior Court, the Youth Law Fair helps students understand the legal system through courtroom tours, discussion panels, and mock trials where they play the role of judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, juror, witness, or litigant.
Associate Judge Kenia Seoane López has been involved in the Youth Law Fair since 2009 and co-chairs the committee responsible for organizing the event. “As a public servant, I think it’s important for the courthouse to open up its doors to the community and to the young people so that they can envision themselves here, so that at some point we can retire and they can take over,” she said.
Students got an overview of the court’s layout and operations, as well as insight into how to become a judge or an attorney and the positive and negative aspects of working within the legal profession.
Among the mock trial participants was Javon Pegram, a member of the National Kappa League, a program providing educational, occupational, and social guidance to young men in 6th–12th grade. Pegram, who intends to pursue a career as a nuclear scientist, said that his prior experience with court proceedings was limited to watching episodes of Judge Judy.
There was a notable shift in Pegram’s demeanor when Magistrate Judge Katherine M. Wiedmann helped him put on his robe. Although his peers often found humor in taking on adult roles of authority, Pegram quickly adopted Judge Wiedmann’s gravitas and proceeded to play a decisive role in maintaining order in the courtroom.
The fact pattern for the mock trial involved a shoplifting accusation and a pair of co-defendants. Youth Law Fair mock trials are designed to reflect real-life situations that arise in the District, and the distributed materials included the laws for conspiracy, robbery, and receiving stolen property. Students also viewed an AI-generated adaptation of the fact pattern and witness statements prior to the mock trials.
Even with the same case, the outcomes varied among the courtrooms. Pegram convicted both defendants and ordered restitution of the full amount lost by the victim, as well as 120 hours of community service.
“I thought you had a good demeanor,” Wiedmann told Pegram, congratulating him on his performance.
Wiedmann’s work commonly involves young people. “I work in a juvenile diversion program for kids where the goal is to get them connected to mental health treatment,” she said. “It’s wonderful to be a part of giving kids an experience here at the court that is positive and that gives them a little bit of an introduction to what we do here.”
At the debriefing session, Pegram said what resonated with him playing judge was “keeping order in the court … the power.”
After the mock trials, a panel discussion moderated by D.C. Bar President Shaun Snyder drew upon the experiences of an attorney, a professor of legal studies, a paralegal, and a court stenographer to provide insights into the careers available in the legal profession. Students asked about the doubts and concerns panelists had in choosing their path, and about what kept them in the profession.
Snyder’s response appeared to reflect the consensus. “I like [being a lawyer] because [I] help people solve problems. The training you get in law school really provides you with the ability to research, to understand people’s behavior, to understand what solutions have been offered in similar situations, and you can go in and help people fix their problems,” Snyder said.
