Dallas District Judge Announces Spring 2016-Citizens' Civil Academy
DALLAS, March 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Judge Staci Williams, Presiding Judge of the 101st District Court, announces the Spring 2016 dates for her free and non-partisan judicial outreach program, the Citizens' Civil Academy. The purpose of the Citizens' Civil Academy is to teach citizens about the civil court process and the inner workings of the George Allen, Sr., Courts Building.
Judge Williams notes, "[P]eople know about the criminal courts. The news, almost daily, highlights cases involving murder, assault, drugs or animal cruelty. Few people can tell you about the civil court process and rarely are there continuous news stories about civil cases."
In Dallas County, a civil district court may hear cases involving contracts, business disputes, motor vehicle accidents, personal injury, property damage, wrongful death, workers' compensation appeals, and eminent domain and condemnation. There are separate civil district courts that handle exclusively family or juvenile issues. And there are other state courts that handle civil issues such as probate, guardianship, evictions and foreclosure.
At the Citizens' Civil Academy, participants will:
- learn what happens to a case from the time it is filed until the time it is disposed;
- find out about available legal resources;
- participate in a mock "voir dire" (jury selection); and,
- win prizes while playing Court BINGO.
Mr. Greg Jones, Outreach Director of the West Dallas Community Church, commented, " [W]e are excited to be hosting the Spring 2016 Citizens' Civil Academy. We need to learn about the court system and how it works, from insiders."
Experienced trial attorneys William M. Toles, a partner at Fee, Smith, Sharp & Vitullo and Spencer Browne, a partner at Reyes, Browne, Reilly, will conduct a mock "voir dire" (jury selection) so that participants will understand what happens when a citizen is called for jury duty and how individuals are selected to sit as a juror on a particular case.
The following civil judges will participate in a panel discussion:
- Judge Dale Tillery, 134th District Court;
- Judge Cheryl Lee Shannon, 305th Juvenile District Court;
- Judge Margaret Jones-Johnson, Dallas County Probate Court #3; and,
- Judge Sarah Martinez, Justice of the Peace, Court 5-1.
The Spring 2016 Citizens' Civil Academy will be held on three consecutive Saturday mornings beginning Saturday, April 16th, April 23rd and concluding on April 30th, from 10:00 a.m. until 12 noon at the West Dallas Community Church, 2215 Canada Drive, Dallas, TX 75212.
Register to attend the Citizens' Civil Academy online at www.ccadallas.com or by calling 214.509.6229.
The Citizens' Civil Academy is open primarily to residents of Dallas County (Cities of Addison, Balch Springs, Carrollton, Cedar Hill, Cockrell Hill, Combine, Coppell, Dallas, DeSoto, Duncanville, Farmers Branch, Ferris, Garland, Glenn Heights, Grand Prairie, Grapevine, Highland Park, Hutchins, Irving, Lancaster, Lewisville, Mesquite, Ovilla, Richardson, Rowlett, Sachse, Seagoville, Sunnyvale, University Park, Wilmer and Wylie).
Judge Staci Williams is the creator of the Citizens' Civil Academy. A native Texan, Judge Williams is a graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, DC and Smith College in Northampton, MA.
Contact: Judge Staci Williams
T: 214.509.6229
Email
www.ccadallas.com
SOURCE Judge Staci Williams
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