On Friday, August 9, 2024, Chief Judge Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach presided over a Mock Trial and a Graduation Ceremony for students/residents of Hogares Villa Encantada and Surcos de Vida, as part of the LEAD program initiative. The activity, held at the Clemente Ruiz Nazario U.S. Courthouse in Hato Rey, was attended by students, family members, school staff and local government officials. 

 

Project LEAD (Legal Enrichment and Decision-making) was established in 1993 by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office in partnership with the Constitutional Rights Foundation.  Its goal is to teach students that the choices they make today can affect their lives forever. 

 

This Project was possible with the collaboration of many federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Attorney's Office, the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico; Federal Public Defender; PR Department of Justice; PR Department of Education ; U.S. Marshals Service, among many others.