Appellate Court Experience (ACE)

The Appellate Court Experience provides high school students with an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the judicial system.

The program includes a classroom curriculum followed by a visit to the Court of Appeal to observe oral arguments in the case previously studied in the classroom. After oral argument, the students are introduced to the appellate court process first-hand with an opportunity to interact with the justices and the attorneys.

Founded in 2005, ACE is co-sponsored by the Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, the Constitution Rights Foundation (CRF), the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Appellate Courts Committee (ACC), and the California Academy of Appellate Lawyers (CAAL).

The program includes a classroom curriculum administered by appellate attorneys from the ACC and the CAAL featuring a pending appeal, followed by a visit to the Court of Appeal to observe oral arguments in the case previously studied in the classroom. After oral argument, the students are introduced to the appellate court process first-hand with an opportunity to interact with the justices and the attorneys.

So far the Second Appellate District’s ACE program has served over 500 students from over 20 High Schools in Los Angeles County. Schools that have participated are:

Bell High School
Burbank High School
CAMS (Calif. Academy of Math and Science)
Dorsey High School
Environmental Charter
Gabrielino High School
James Monroe High School
Jordan High School
King Drew Medical Magnet
L.A. Center for Enriched Studies
Los Angeles High School
Mira Costa High School
North Hollywood High School
Redondo Beach High School
Sierra Canyon
South Pasadena High School
Venice High School
Viewpoint High School
Woodrow Wilson High School
Workman High School

For more information, call Joseph A. Lane, Clerk/Administrator, at 213-830-7000