Lincoln High School Constitution Team Nabs National Prize
After three days of simulated congressional hearings on the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, Lincoln High School of Portland won first place in the 27th Annual ”We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution” National Finals. Schools from California and Virginia finished second and third, respectively.
This is the fifth national title for Lincoln, and the third year in a row that a team from Portland Public Schools has won the national competition. (Portland’s Grant High School, the 2013 national title holder, came in second in the 2014 statewide competition.)
The list of coaches who assisted classroom teacher Tim Swinehart and worked with the championship team all year long includes Oregon lawyers Alison Brody, Steve Griffith, Misha Isaak, Ben O’Glasser, Darin Sands and Rachel Weisshaar. Former team members also served as coaches, and a long list of practice judges, parents and community members supported the effort, which Griffith notes, “says a lot about the civic spirit of Oregon.”
Oregon Premiere of ‘Kids for Cash’ June 22
The nonprofit firm Youth, Rights & Justice will co-sponsor the Oregon premiere of the film “Kids for Cash” on Sunday, June 22 at the World Trade Center auditorium in Portland. The film will begin at 3 p.m. and will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Secretary of State Kate Brown. There will be and reception with light hors d’oeuvres. Tickets are $50.
The movie tells of a scandal that unfolded in 2008 over judicial kickbacks in Pennsylvania. Two judges were accused of accepting money from the builder of two private, for-profit juvenile facilities. In return, the judges contracted with the facilities and imposed harsh sentences on juveniles brought before their courts to increase the number of inmates in the detention centers.
For more information, visit www.tinyurl.com/K4CORPremiere.
American Inns of Court Accepting Essays Until July 1
The American Inns of Court invites judges, lawyers, professors, students, scholars and other authors to participate in its Warren E. Burger Prize essay contest.
To enter, ssubmit an original, unpublished essay of 10,000 to 20,000 words on a topic of your choice addressing issues of legal excellence, civility, ethics and professionalism. The winning author will receive a cash prize of $5,000 and will receive the award at the American Inns of Court Celebration of Excellence at the Supreme Court of the United States.
Visit www.tinyurl.com/2014Burger Prize for details on how the essay should be presented and for prize rules. Essays must be submitted no later than July 1 and the winner will be announced by Aug. 31.
OAAP Open House Sept. 23
The Oregon Attorney Assistance Program will hold an open house on Tuesday, Sept. 23 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Oregon Attorney Assistance Project offices, 520 S.W. Yamhill St., Suite 1050, in Portland. Come meet OAAP’s new attorney counselor, Kyra M. Hazilla, and celebrate more than 30 years of providing free and completely confidential assistance to the legal community of Oregon. More information will be available in the future at www.oaap.org.
Golf for Classroom Law Project Golf Sept. 29
The Classroom Law Project will host a golf tournament on Sept. 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Portland Golf Club. The tournament will feature 144 players in a classic scramble format and will include long drive, KP (closest pin), long putt and straight drive competitions.
Registration will begin at 9 a.m., with a shotgun start at 11. The tournament will end with a happy hour featuring hearty appetizers. For more information, visit tinyurl.com/CLPGolf2014.
Paralegals Raise $5,000 for the Campaign for Equal Justice
On Monday, April 28, the Oregon Paralegal Association held its 35th Anniversary Soiree and Fundraiser for The Lawyers’ Campaign for Equal Justice. The event brought 150 guests from the legal community to The Sentinel Hotel to celebrate OPA’s anniversary and raise $5,000 for CEJ to fund Oregon’s legal aid programs.
Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas A. Balmer spoke at the event about the importance of paralegals in the legal profession and the need for continued support of legal aid programs. The $5,000 was raised through a silent auction of donated items and the sale of raffle tickets.