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15 pre-law program students to stage mock trial
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Posted on Jul 13 2005
Fifteen pre-law students from the CNMI will stage a mock trial at the Guma Hustisia in Susupe this Friday as part of their summer program’s culminating activity.
Robert J. Desiderio, a professor from the University of New Mexico’s School of Law and one of the two individuals conducting the pre-law summer classes, served as guest speaker during Saipan Rotary Club’s regular meeting at the Hyatt Regency Saipan Tuesday. He said the students would have their final test by arguing a case before a court of judges.
Desiderio also said 23 of the 73 who took the summer pre-law program had a follow through on the courses by enrolling in law schools. He said some of them have already completed their law studies and are actually already practicing lawyers.
Rotarian Perry Inos, along with other local lawyers, attested during the meeting that they wanted to return the fruits of their success to the community and that was why they decided to hold office in the CNMI after completing their law degrees in the U.S. mainland. Inos said the program truly helps prepare interested students for real law courses should they decide to pursue law studies.
Desiderio said Inos was also one of the 73 residents who took advantage of the summer pre-law program. He said the CNMI Supreme Court, the NMI Bar Association, and the NMI Humanities Council sponsored the pre-law program that started in 1991. The program was held only five times since then, said Desiderio. He said the program was held in 1992, 1994, 2000, 2002, and this year.
“One-third is an exceptional number…14 of them are back on island practicing [law] either in government or private like Perry Inos, who graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1994,” he said.
Frederick M. Hart, also one of the teaching professors in the pre-law program, said the summer class started on June 27 and will end July 15. He said the classes are conducted from 8:30am to 11:30am. He said the students’ age ranges from mid 20s to late 40s. He said Saipan Tribune’s John Ravelo and current Rotary Club president Jim Witt are attending the classes.
