Civics in the First Circuit

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Please direct questions to: Caleb_Houston@mad.uscourts.gov

Nelson & Lindsay Fellowship

Each summer, the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts hosts two fellowship programs aimed at providing high school students, college     seniors, as well as recent graduates with hands-on experience and access to the federal court system. Judges Saris, Stearns, Casper, and Dein sponsor this    program annually. Each Judge regularly comments on how much they look forward to welcoming the students each year, and what a legacy the students have created. The success of the 2023 programs is attributed to Samantha Roszczenko, Jurianny Guerrero and Caleb Houston, who facilitated the      fellowships in partnership with the Posse Foundation, Summer Search, BottomLine, and PIC.

The six-week Nelson Fellowship program welcomed ten high school students to the district court to participate in courses focusing on civil rights, writing, current social issues, and public speaking.  Over the summer, the Nelson Fellows worked in a judge's chambers, met with community leaders such as the Chief of Juvenile Unit for Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, Migdalia Nalls, court mentors including the U.S. Attorney's office staff, and Nelson Fellow Alumni such as Jermaine Kidd to gain insights into the workings of the judiciary. The fellows met with community leaders and college administrators, and attended live or remote court proceedings. Also, the fellows visited the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and toured the Edward Brooke Courthouse. To end the summer internship, the fellows used the skills they gained to compete in a Mock Trial against the Judicial Corp of Boston. The Nelson Fellowship Mock Trial & Graduation Ceremony was held on August 11, 2023, marking its 26th year of changing lives of high school students. 

The Lindsay Fellowship program is offered to rising college seniors and recent college graduates pursuing a law degree. This nine-week program provides six students with a beneficial learning opportunity. The fellows’ time is divided between time working in a judge's chambers with a Judicial Officer, and in different divisions within the federal court system such as U.S. Pretrial and Probation Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and U.S. Federal Public Defender’s Office. The spilt work environments provide each fellow with hands-on experience for the next steps in their career. Similar to the Nelson Fellowship, the Lindsay Fellows participate in educational courses focusing on legal research, writing, and public speaking. The fellows visited Boston College School of Law, Suffolk Law School, Boston University School of Law, and Harvard Law School to help guide their next steps in their education. The nine-week experience culminates in a moot court trial before a federal judge. The Lindsay Fellowship Moot Court & Graduation Ceremony was held on August 3, 2023.

For additional information, please follow the link for the Nelson Fellowship https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/outreach/nelson.htm. Please follow the link for the Lindsay Fellowship https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/outreach/lindsay.htm.