NEW ROCHELLE, NY (June 27, 2026) — Fifty Albert Leonard Middle School students spent a day immersed in the legal system on June 8 as the keynote speaker for their “A Day in Law School” program was a hometown judge who now leads judicial training for the entire state: Hon. Kathie E. Davidson, Dean of the New York State Judicial Institute and a graduate of Albert Leonard Middle School and the City School District of New Rochelle.
Davidson, who was designated Dean of the Judicial Institute in 2021 by then-Chief Judge Janet DiFiore, oversees the creation and delivery of training programs for newly elected and appointed judges across New York’s Unified Court System, as well as continuing legal education programs for judges and lawyers statewide. Before taking the helm of the Institute, she served as Administrative Judge for the Ninth Judicial District, which encompasses Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, and Westchester counties. She first joined the bench in 2004 upon her election to the Westchester Family Court, was re-elected in 2014, and was later appointed an acting Supreme Court Justice before being named the Ninth Judicial District’s Administrative Judge in February 2018 — becoming the first woman to hold that position and the first African American appointed Administrative Judge outside New York City. She was elected to the State Supreme Court, Ninth Judicial District, in 2019.
Davidson’s keynote appearance was part of a program organized by the New York State Judicial Institute designed to bridge classroom civics with real-world experience. Students were introduced to the American legal system through hands-on learning, collaboration, and mentorship from legal professionals, working in small groups alongside law students to explore how courts function, learn legal terminology, and analyze landmark court cases.
A highlight of the day was an in-depth examination of the U.S. Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines, which established that students do not lose their First Amendment free speech rights at the schoolhouse gate. Students applied the principles of the case to contemporary scenarios, developing arguments, evaluating evidence, and considering multiple perspectives. Student representatives from each group then presented their arguments before an assembly of more than 150 middle school students from across Westchester County.
Students said the experience gave them a new appreciation for legal reasoning and courtroom procedure.
“I really liked meeting the law students, learning all the law vocabulary, as well as discussing and analyzing the cases,” said student Jake Sparrow.
Fellow student Lawrence Bornholz said, “I liked how we argued our cases in the afternoon like it was a mock trial.”
Michael Venar said, “I liked how we explored different points of view and shared our evidence as a lawyer. I enjoyed the scenario we worked on; it was very professional. Both sides made great points, and it was a good experience for myself as someone considering the field of law.”
Madison Gialanella said, “I liked hearing other people’s opinions on the court case and learning about students’ rights in school.”
Albert Leonard Middle School Humanities Chair David Luhman said the program brought civics to life for students.
“Watching our students confidently engage with judges, attorneys, and law students was truly inspiring,” Luhman said. “The program brought civics to life and showed our students that their voices matter. It was exciting to see them develop a deeper understanding of the law while beginning to envision future careers in public service and the legal profession.”
This article was prepared with the assistance of AI tools under the direction and editing of Robert Cox.
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