Maryland state judges visited three Title I schools in Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), participating in the district’s first Reading & Robes initiative Tuesday morning.
Wearing black robes, the judges went to Rolling Terrace, Greencastle and Twinbrook elementary schools to read culturally diverse books with themes of justice and fairness to students, according to MCPS. The Reading & Robes program promotes literacy while encouraging a deeper understanding of the judicial system, and it allows students to engage with positive role models, according to MCPS.
Courtesy: @MCPS
MCPS said the judges read “The Highest Tribute: Thurgood Marshall’s Life, Leadership, and Legacy” and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s “Turning Pages: My Life Story.” Each student received a copy of Thurgood Marshall’s book, according to MCPS.
According to MCPS, the following judges read the books to the students:
- Rolling Terrace Elementary School: Marielsa Althea Bernard, a senior judge of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County and a founding member of the Maryland Hispanic Bar Association (MHBA), and Associate Judge Zuberi Williams of the Montgomery County District Court, one of the youngest judges ever appointed in Maryland.
- Greencastle Elementary School: Associate Judges Jill Cummins and Bibi Berry of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, and Associate Judge Aileen Oliver of the District Court.
- Twinbrook Elementary School: Associate Judges Steven Salant and Leibowitz of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, and Holly Reed III, an associate judge of the District Court.”
Courtesy: @MCPS
Associate Judge Louis Leibowitz, who spoke to students at Twinbrook, said, “I hope the kids learn that judges are real people, just like them. I hope the books we are reading and the words we share inspire the students to believe that they too can achieve success.”
Rolling Terrace Principal Isabelle Mensah said, “This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to see how dedication and education can lead to an exciting career that will positively impact our communities.”
MCPS said a grant from the Maryland Bar Foundation and the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Education Fund made Reading & Robes possible, which the National Judicial College started in 2019.
