Superior Court of California, County of San Joaquin Stockton Branch, Administration 222 E. Weber Avenue, Room 303 Stockton, CA 95202

NEWS RELEASE

Award Winning Court-Community Program Graduation

When: Thursday, April 4, 2002 7:00pm

Where: Jury Assembly Room, Superior Court, Stockton

18 representatives from the ethnic, immigrant and disabled communities in San Joaquin County are graduating from a one-of-a-kind training program that equips people to serve as active liaisons between the court and their communities. The program recently won an innovation award from the judicial Council of California.

Graduates of the Court-Community Leadership Academy are now able to answer questions in their communities about the justice system - or they’ll know how to find the answers. Graduates will also meet regularly with San Joaquin County Superior Court judges to discuss court-related problems and concerns in their communities.

“This graduation represents a significant achievement for Academy participants,” according to Judge William J. Murray, Jr., coordinator of the program. “These folks have invested many long, hard hours of study, so that they can be of better service to their communities. The court is proud to have facilitated that dedication.”

Academy graduation culminates a vigorous17-week curriculum. Participants attended one 3-hour class per week, on topics related to the justice system like “Criminal Law,” “Small Claims,” “Family Law,” “Traffic Laws,” “Jury Service,” and others. Classes were taught by Superior Court judges and other justice system professionals. Participants also went on field trips to the County Jail, Juvenile Hall, local courts, and the Third District Court of Appeal in Sacramento.

The Court-Community Leadership Academy is part of the San Joaquin County Superior Court’s community-focused court planning efforts.