Eighth-grade students from Nativity Catholic School in Hollywood recently visited the Broward County Courthouse for an immersive, hands-on learning experience.
The students toured the courthouse, visited the law library, and observed first-appearance court hearings, where they learned how judges determine bail. They met Circuit Court Judges Lorena V. Mastrarrigo, Ari Abraham Porth, and Elijah H. Williams, along with County Court Judge Corey B. Friedman, who shared insights into their roles on the bench.
Students also heard from two full-time courthouse interpreters and learned what it takes to translate proceedings simultaneously. The students heard presentations by the Broward Sheriff Office Crime Lab’s latent prints expert Mayxis Rodriguez-Pena and ballistics expert William Ruiz Fontane, offering a real-world look at forensic science. Janelle Floyd, Community Outreach Coordinator for the Broward Public Defender’s Office, explained what the Public Defender’s Office does to represent the indigent.
The experience brought students face-to-face with the justice system and the realities of crime, punishment, and public service.
