“Positive Change is Within Reach” - Reflections by Teague Clark

Working with SVUDL as an Operations Intern has been an overwhelmingly positive experience! I never used to be interested in Speech and Debate. The school system would shove outdated American History politics for us to occasionally debate about, which did not strike any interest to me. Because of this, I figured it wasn’t my thing. However, the older I became, the more I realized how there are countless horrible systems in our current society. It’s important to support the underprivileged (especially people of color), help them tap into something that they weren’t previously exposed to, and help them develop and amplify their voice. Students are our future leaders, and it’s important to provide them with the resources they need to thrive.

Through this internship I’ve learned how to efficiently utilize Squarespace, Hootsuite, Adobe Premiere, and Canva, along with creating and managing the SVUDL social media pages. Before this internship I never explored these different platforms (besides the social media apps), so this has been a very beneficial learning experience for me. I feel confident in my abilities in graphic design/editing now that I’ve been able to experiment more with Canva. Along with this, my management/organizational skills have definitely improved. I found that simply keeping a task list close to me bolstered my ability to stay focused and work efficiently. Considering that many different organizations and workplaces utilize these apps, it’s important to learn the most I can about them, and carry the knowledge through any of my future endeavors. It’s also important to not be afraid to ask any questions. Everyone is very supportive and helpful, and there is nothing to be ashamed of!

The impact of supporting young students and empowering them to explore new possibilities cannot be overstated. As I step forward from this internship, I carry with me the knowledge that exploring new platforms and technologies can unlock vast potentials. I am grateful for the supportive and encouraging environment at SVUDL, which has nurtured my growth and instilled in me the belief that with dedication and passion, positive change is within reach.

In turn, SVUDL thanks Teague for all of his support this summer, and looks forward to bearing witness to how he’ll bring these newfound skills to his schoolwork and future career aspirations. Thank you Teague!

Poise Under Pressure: SVUDL Students Shine at 2023 Moot Court Finals

On Wednesday, June 28th, SVUDL students, honorable court judges, lawyers, and other SVUDL champions gathered at DLA Piper for SVUDL’s 2023 Moot Court Competition.

The Moot Court serves as a cornerstone activity of SVUDL's Professional Access & Mentoring programs, which aim to bridge the opportunity gap and enhance the diversity pipeline of future professionals by engaging students in activities that broaden their horizons, opportunities, and networks. Students engage in the meticulous preparation and vigorous advocacy of a case, presenting it before a distinguished panel of actual Federal and State court judges. 

This year's case centers around the pretrial motion of Reagan Klein, a young adult residing in the fictitious town of East Flamingo, California. Klein faces a felony charge of making a criminal threat in the case of People v. Klein. The pivotal question at hand is whether the purported threat falls within the boundaries of protected speech under the first amendment or qualifies as a 'true threat' according to California Penal Code 422. Over the course of several weeks, students have dedicated themselves to intensive preparation through regular practice sessions with their coaches. Additionally, they have had the valuable opportunity to receive guidance from practicing attorneys, aiding them in refining their speeches for the final proceedings.These esteemed judges assessed the students based on the caliber and persuasiveness of their presentation, along with their ability to provide spontaneous and unscripted responses to inquiries from the bench.

The four students that were selected to participate in this activity were Chloe Truong and Ojas Gandhi from Independence High School (San Jose) and Julian Christensen and Cristel Bonilla de la Cruz from Summit Everest High School (Redwood City). Competitors stood in front of a three judge panel consisting of: Hon. Daniel A. Bress, Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Hon. Mary J. Greenwood, Administrative Presiding Justice, California Sixth District Court of Appeal, and Hon. Cynthia C. Lie, Associate Justice, California Sixth District Court of Appeal.

Judge Bress was “thoroughly impressed” by the student presentation. “You made it look easy, but we all know how difficult it was, to get up in front of a lot of people and speak with such poise,” he shared.  He also applauded the students’ vernacular, noting that the students, “Can't just say something, you actually have to have authority. And that was shown through the deep understanding of the case materials.” Justice Greenwood was also in agreement. She was so impressed with the fact that the students, “[all] had the language of the cases on the tip of your tongue.” She noted that, “Many lawyers couldn't do what they accomplished that day.” They often “don't have that mastery, which  speaks to the students’ level of preparation.” She was in awe that the students were able to answer the sophisticated and difficult legal questions. “[They] all projected incredible confidence and it wasn't just what you said - it's also how you said it.” 

Justice Lie acknowledged the particular difficulty of this setting and space. “It's one thing to be having this conversation with the bench, not you didn’t just face one judge, but three. In addition, you were doing this in front of a significant audience who were in your direct line of sight.” She emphasized the spectacular presentation on how it was handled exceptionally well and with great authority.

Unable to attend this year’s event? Please stay tuned for a full video of the proceedings!

Thank you to DLA Piper, the judges, our volunteers, staff, and most importantly, all the students who participated in this year’s event. We’re so grateful for the continued support!

June Reveals New Opportunities To Stretch and Grow

ARGUING BEFORE THE HONORABLE SEAN DABEL IS ADALID VARGAS BERBER (PROSECUTION) JOINED BY HIS CO COUNSEL, FRANCISCO PUIG GOMEZ. ON THE DEFENSE ARE CHLOE TRUONG AND OJAS GANDHI.

As the competitive Speech and Debate season wound down last month, many SVUDL students shifted to our annual Moot Court competition. Moot Court is a unique, educational event where high school students prepare and argue a case before a panel of real federal and state court judges who evaluate the students on the quality and persuasiveness of their presentation, as well as their unscripted responses to spontaneous questions from the bench. This year’s case, People v. Klein, is the pretrial motion of Reagan Klein, a young adult resident of the fictional town of East Flamingo, California who is charged with a felony count of making a criminal threat. The core argument of the case was whether the alleged threat was protected speech under the first amendment or constituted a ‘true threat’ under California Penal Code 422. Students have been preparing for weeks during weekly practices with their coaches and even had opportunities for lawyers to come in to help refine their speeches.

On Wednesday, June 14, SVUDL students from four different high schools converged on the Santa Clara County Courthouse for SVUDL’s first Moot Court semifinal of the year! For this event, the students participating were Adrian Ly and Kashvi Jain from Silver Creek; Julian Christensen and Cristel de la Cruz from Summit Everest; Michelle Tiburcio, Andres Gonzalez, Stephany Urbina-Diaz, and Jocelyn Guzman from Eastside; and Frank Shau and Juan Moreno from Independence. These ten students had the opportunity to go through their pretrial motions completely and argue for either prosecution or defense in front of actual judges at the Santa Clara County Superior Court. SVUDL was gracious to have Judge Garcia-Sen, Judge Pennypacker, Judge Alloggiamento, and Judge Williams dedicate their time and efforts to listen and cross-examine the competing students.

FROM LEFT: KASHVI JAIN, ADRIAN LY AND JUDGE CHRISTINE GARCIA-SEN

The students' hard work and commitment were recognized. SVUDL’s Executive Director, Rolland Janairo, observed competitors Stefany and Jocelyn and noted that they were “poised” and had a “professional demeanor throughout” their oral arguments. Jocelyn in particular was acknowledged for her flowing throughout the round. The impact of that can be seen immediately reflected in the concise structure of her rebuttal. Rolland noted that students were nervous at the start of their speeches, but “had clearly prepared and settled in nicely as time went on.” Judge Alloggiamento mentioned that it “was wonderful seeing the students perform” and emphasized her appreciation that the league is able to “teach [students] how to use their voice, not just for these competitions but in life!”

On Wednesday, June 21st, SVUDL students had another opportunity to practice their skills and refine their speeches, as they visited the San Mateo County Courthouse the following week for a second round of semifinals. Students competing in this round included: Adalid Vargas Berber and Francisco Puig Gomez from Eastside College Preparatory Academy (East Palo Alto); Chloe Truong, Ojas Gandhi, Juan Moreno, and Jimena Resendiz-Carrillo from Independence High School (San Jose); and Julian Christensen and Cristel de la Cruz Bonilla from Summit Everest High School (Redwood City). Competitors stood in front of Judge Dadel, Judge Chou, and Commissioner Padilla while being cross-examined with complex questions. This was not an easy feat. Judge Renee Reyna, who observed rounds, was impressed by the students that she witnessed. She thought they performed well above their age level and demonstrated their knowledge exceptionally. She reflected that the “students should be proud of themselves. It can be nerve-wracking for licensed attorneys to make an argument in court, so to see the students I saw be so poised was impressive.” Attorney Tanya O'Malley says that It was great to see the kids show off their hard work. They really knew their stuff and were prepared for all of the questions sent their way!”

Thank you again to all of the lawyers and the judges of the Superior Court of Santa Clara County and Superior Court of San Mateo County for their support of our students!