The United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico welcomed a group of twenty fifth-grade students from Rexville School in Bayamón to the Clemente Ruiz Nazario U.S. Courthouse in Hato Rey on Monday, May 11, 2026, as part of the school’s participation in Project LEAD (Legal Enrichment and Decision-making).

 

The students, accompanied by teacher Ilia Escalera, participated in an educational visit designed to provide young students with a greater understanding of the judicial system and the importance of responsible decision-making. Chief U.S. District Judge Raúl M. Arias-Marxuach addressed the students and discussed the role and responsibilities of the federal judiciary. Assistant United States Attorney Michelle Colón also participated in the program, together with court personnel, offering students additional insight into courtroom proceedings and careers in public service. Magistrate Judge Héctor Ramos-Vegas also participated in this event. 

 

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. The program seeks to teach students that the choices they make today can have a lasting impact on their future.

 

The initiative in Puerto Rico was made possible through the collaboration of numerous federal and state agencies, including the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Puerto Rico, the United States District Court for the District of Puerto Rico, the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Puerto Rico, the Puerto Rico Department of Justice, the Puerto Rico Department of Education, and the United States Marshals Service, among many others.

 

The visit reflects the Court’s continued commitment to civic education and community outreach efforts aimed at fostering public understanding of the judicial branch among students throughout Puerto Rico.