Four students from JoAnn Erwin’s social studies class at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School recently participated in a five-day program that gave them an inside look at the justice system. The soon-to-be sophomores – Miles Reese, Catherin Sakin, Paris De Freitas and Joseph Falco – participated in the Eastern District of New York Justice Institute’s program, part of the Second Circuit’s civics education initiative Justice for All: Courts and the Community.

The program, now in its fourth year, included 80 other students from across Long Island interested in the justice system. The program culminated with a mock trial competition, where students act the role of witnesses and lawyers. Mentors helped them craft opening and closing statements, pursue arguments and understand court protocol. The four Copiague students won the “And Justice For All” award for the best opening statement by the prosecution during the mock trial competition.