KCBACF Sponsored Events
Open Doors to the Federal Courts
The Foundation sponsors the annual “Open Doors to the Federal Court” program. The purpose of this event is to introduce youth to the federal court and its allied law enforcement agencies. Approximately 250 high school students from around Kern County attend.
The Open Doors program includes a mock trial with an Assistant U.S. Attorney presenting the case and a federal defense lawyer defending the accused. The trial is presided over by the U.S. Magistrate Judge and at the conclusion, the student jurors deliberate and render a verdict.
In addition, the students hear presentations from representatives of various federal agencies including the FBI, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Probation Office and Pretrial Services, U.S. Marshal Service, the Drug Enforcement Agency, Naval Criminal Investigative Service Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and others.
The Open Doors program is held at the Board of Supervisors’ Chambers and is broadcast live in addition to running many times throughout the year on KGOV.
This event has great community support. Along with support from the United States District Court, Eastern District of California and many volunteer lawyers coordinating the event, the Kern County Superintendent of Schools is a valuable co-sponsor. Every year the program introduces students to agencies most students have heard of only on TV and encourages them to believe that “the sky’s the limit” when planning their futures.
Constitution Day Book Giveaway
Sept. 17, 2013 was the 226th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution. Across the country, school children and others will celebrate this anniversary in recognition of the Constitution. The Kern County Bar Association Charitable Foundation, in partnership with Capstone Publishing, will celebrate Constitution Day by donating books about the Constitution and the U.S. Supreme Court to every public elementary school in Kern County. Members of the Bar Association will read the books to the students and answer their questions about the American legal system.
The U.S. Constitution continues to provide the framework for our government, notwithstanding the many changes the world has undergone since Sept. 17, 1787. Through the donation of books to local schools, and through the interactive sessions with the children, the Kern County Charitable Foundation seeks to raise awareness about our remarkable Constitution and the legal system as a whole. The Foundation’s goal is not just to teach kids about the legal system but also to foster enthusiasm and interest in the legal system