CourtCares
United States District Court—Middle District of North Carolina
Est. 2013
Guest Speakers
How we got started….
• Bill Bell, Former Mayor
Joe L. Webster took the oath of office as an U.S. Magistrate Judge
• Erin Blondel, Assistant
U.S. Attorney on November 7, 2012. Consistent with his career long
commitment to making a difference in his profession
• Mirelle Clough, Federal
and community, the idea of reaching out to the
Public Defender
youth of Durham, North Carolina immediately came
• Dr. Giselle Corbie- to him. The first CourtCares session, in April 2013,
Smith, University
hosted Shepard Middle School. Students are
Instructor
introduced to the federal court system, encouraged
• Acquania Escarne, US to stay on the right side of the law and exposed to
State Dept. Recruiter/ U.S. Magistrate Judge Joe L. Webster life-long strategies for leading successful and healthy Mayor Bill Bell
Outreach Ofc.
lives. Each session Judge Webster encourages students to persevere through life’s challenges and
• James R. Gorham, (Ret. to be respectful of their fellow classmates and teachers. Students are also warned about bullying
Brigadier General) and encouraged to lift up their fellow students, as validation is
• Sandra Hairston, First something that all people need to be successful.
Assistant US Attorney
Guest speakers, all successful men and women from various walks of
• Fred Hayes, life, have reinforced Judge Webster’s message of encouragement.
Entrepreneur The speakers have told their own stories of how they have gotten to
• Nicole Hudson, UNC where they are today and the many obstacles they have had to
Track Coach overcome, many caused by their own poor decision making.
Dr. Marian
• Dr. Marian Johnson- Johnson-Thompson Judge Webster presides in a mock criminal trial with the assistance Acquania Escarne
Thompson, Retired
of his law clerks, externs and occasionally a member of the U.S. Probation Office . Students act as
Scientist
jurors, listening to the evidence and rendering a verdict. This is followed by a brief discussion
• Reginald Liger, with the students on some of the fundamental principles of our criminal justice system. This
Electrical Engineer includes a discussion of the presumption of a defendant’s
• Jose Lopez, Fmr. Police innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt,
Chief and a defendant’s right to a fair and impartial trial.
• Linda M. McGee, Chief Students are also shown Judge Webster’s chambers, the
N.C. Appeals Judge holding cell and facilities where fingerprinting and DNA
samples are collected from suspects. Reginald Liger
• Col. Glenn McNeill, NC
Highway Patrol CDR We are excited about moving forward and continuing to reach today’s youth
Bucky Waters
• Angela Pollard, U.S. through CourtCares.
Postal Inspector
• Efren Renteria, IT
Professional
• Bucky Waters, Fmr. Div.
1 Basketball Coach
• James Webster, Fmr.
Div. II Football Coach
James Webster
• Matthew Wright, Fmr. Fred Hayes
Ringling Brothers Clown Erin Blondel
Testim onials
• “Judge Webster, thank you again for your partnership with our middle schools.
Our students are very fortunate to be able to visit and see a court in action.
Thanks also for your powerful words of encouragement and instruction that you
share with the students. I read your attached statement and especially
appreciate your comments on bullying and the human need for validation.”
- Heidi H. Carter, Chair, Durham Board of Education
• “Awesome! What a fabulous opportunity for our Lowe's Grove students! Thanks
for a great partnership!”
- Dr. Julie Spencer, Area Superintendent for Middle Schools,
Durham Public Schools
• “We are excited to be sending another group to visit. Thank you again for
allowing our students this opportunity.”
- Holly Emanuel, Principal – Carrington Middle School
• “We appreciate your willingness to give back to the community and make a
difference in our students’ lives.”
- Regina Nickson, Community Engagement Liaison
Durham Public Schools
• “Thank you for providing our students with this engaging learning opportunity.”
- Darneise Massey, Principal,
Lowe’s Grove Middle School of Technology
