GCC Celebrates National Law Day May 1, 2018

Mock Trials Led by GCC Paralegal & Criminal Justice Students

Batavia, NY (04/11/2018) — On Tuesday, May 1, 2018 along with thousands of programs across the United States, Genesee Community College will recognize National Law Day with a full day of mock trials, receptions and speakers, and an Honor Society Induction Ceremony into the Lambda Epsilon Chi (LEX) Chapter.

National Law Day, celebrated annually on May 1, is designed to shed light on how laws protect liberties and the process by which the legal system strives to achieve justice. Every year since 1958 the President of the United States has issued a Law Day Proclamation recognizing the importance of the rule of the law. This year, President Donald J. Trump's proclamation will address The Separation of Powers: Framework for Freedom as a basic tenet of our U.S. Constitution and studied by all legal students.

GCC's Paralegal Studies students and the Criminal Justice students along with the Accelerated College Enrollment (ACE) students from Justice Academy invite the general public to witness mock trials they developed as part of their studies. The students and faculty have spent over 20 hours developing statements, preparing witnesses and planning arguments to mimic actual legal proceedings that simulate courtroom experiences. The mock trials will last approximately 90 minutes each and will be held at the Old County Courthouse in downtown Batavia from 10 a.m. till 3 p.m. All are welcome to come observe.

This year's mock trials will feature a murder case torn from the headlines - college hazing, drinking and death.

Following the courtroom mock trials, the Paralegal Studies students will attend an Alumni Reception at GCC and hear keynote speaker, Benjamin J. Bonarigo, Sr. Bonarigo is a member of GCC's Board of Trustees and a practicing lawyer in the community for over 30 years. He began his education at GCC with a degree in Business Administration and later went on to the University of Buffalo where he earned a bachelor's degree and a Juris Doctorate degree. He has been appointed a member of the NYS Bar Association House of Delegates, NYS Appellate Division Grievance Committee for the Fourth Department, is past president of the Genesee County Bar Association and a former Independent Judicial Qualification Commission member. He has served 25 years as a board member for the Batavia Youth Football League and was honored with the Notre Dame Service and Volunteer Award for having served in various positions on the Notre Dame High School Board of Trustees for ten years.

GCC's Law Day recognition culminates in the William W. Stuart Forum with the Lambda Epsilon Chi (LEX) Honor Society Induction emceed by GCC's Director of Paralegal Studies Karyn S. Bryson, who will induct 16 new Honor Society members. Bryson received her Juris Doctorate degree from Southwestern University School of Law in Los Angeles, California and has been part of the Paralegal Studies Program at GCC since 2007.

The complete list of inductees including their hometowns can be viewed at http://marketing.genesee.edu/images/LEX_HonorSocietyInductees2018.pdf.

Membership in the Honor Society requires a 3.25 overall GPA and a 3.5 GPA specifically for Legal Specialty Courses. The GCC Lambda Chi (LEX) Chapter is newly chartered in 2018.

For more information, contact Marketing Communications Associate Director Donna Rae Sutherland at (585) 343-0055 ext. 6616, or via email: dsutherland@genesee.edu.

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Editor's Note:

A photograph Karyn Bryson, courtesy of GCC, is available at:

http://marketing.genesee.edu/images/Karyn_Bryson.jpg

A photograph Benjamin J. Bonarigo Sr., courtesy of GCC, is available at:

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