Langley Celebrates Case Day Today

Langley student Leah McSteen sent along this information about Langley's annual Case Day, a tradition at Langley, that takes place today.

 WHAT: For 20 years Langley High School students have participated in “Case Day” --  an all-day event at which students present mock oral arguments based on a case pending in the Supreme Court.

WHEN: Monday, March 19, 2012    7:45 AM to 2 PM

WHERE: Langley High School

BACKGROUND: Case Day is an annual event that is organized by the entire senior class at Langley High School. Students are required to take US Government, AP Government, or AP Comparative Government in their senior year. 

Case Day allows for what is being learned in the classroom to be utilized and practiced in a realistic Supreme Court mock trial.  Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, student petitioners and correspondents will be arguing the cases of Miller v Alabama and Jackson v Hobbs which deal with the eighth and fourteenth amendments.

  The students will present their arguments to a panel of justices that include attorneys John Scalia, John Estes, and representation from Skadden, Arps, Holland and Knight and Greenberg Costele, and two Langley students selected for their high academic standing and deep understanding of the cases.

What’s special about Case Day is our mock oral arguments are conducted one day prior to the official oral arguments that will be heard at the Supreme Court. 

Ten to fifteen highly involved students from Case Day will have the privilege to attend oral arguments at the Supreme Court and afterwards stay to discuss the case and related judicial matters with Justice Scalia.

The all day event will include presentations from special interest groups like the Juvenile Law Center, American Probation and Parole Association, and Amnesty International with the addition of discussions regarding the ethical dilemmas within the case in which the psychology club will discuss childhood environment, and the History Honor Society will speak about the history of capital punishment. 

The mock oral arguments, mentioned above, will explore the constitutionality of sending a juvenile to prison for life without parole, and whether such is a cruel and unusual punishment.

Case Day really relies on the student body for the event to be a success.  In addition to the student lawyers and justices, the coordinators, speakers, and committees create the foundation and expectations that Case Day lives up to each year. 

Case Day is open to the public. You need to stop by the Principal's Office first.