R.I. Superior Court Associate Justice Judith Savage, left, discusses the ‘verdict’ of a mock cyber-bullying trial with junior judges Manny Gonzalez and Hillary Clough, both Woonsocket Middle School eighth-graders, at the school Friday. Call Photo/Ernest A. Brown

By SANDY McGEE

WOONSOCKET — Woonsocket Middle School students received a lesson in law Friday from Superior Court Associate Justice Judith Savage and longtime lawyer Bruce Wolpert.

The event was part of the annual Rhode Island Law Day, which included more than 50 judges and attorneys visiting students in local classrooms throughout the state. The program has been held in local schools for more than five years.
Savage and Wolpert spoke to eighth-graders in Toni Marie Campopiano’s class and Robin Peters’ social studies class on Friday morning.
“Every year, we have a different topic,” Savage said. “This year, we’ll talk about cyber bullying.
“It is really great that we can bring the courtroom and legal process to the classroom. I think students have strong insights into legal issues that are right on the money and sometimes more advanced than adults.”
The program on Friday began with a discussion about jury selection and the difference between criminal and civil court, but quickly moved into a discussion about cyber bullying and posting personal information on the Internet.
“Ninety percent of middle school students in the United States this past year have had their feelings hurt in some way (through electronic communication),” Savage said. “Seventy-five percent of the students polled in the last year have visited a (Web) site where a student was being criticized.”
Savage also told students that cyber bullying could occur through any electronic communication source, including text messaging, e-mail, instant messaging, etc. She also told students about how online harassment can harm another person. 
Both Savage and Wolbert held a mock trial in the classroom to further demonstrate the consequences of cyber bullying. The case was based on a real trial in which a video produced in a school was stolen, digitally altered and posted on You Tube without the student’s permission.
Students in the classroom served as mock lawyers, jury members and members of the defense and prosecution. Eighth-graders Hillary Clough and Manny Gonzalez served as mock judges and authenticated their judicial role with official black robes.
The students were asked to discuss the case and argue it as if they were in a real court of law.
“The honorable Superior Court of Woonsocket is now in session,” said Savage to start the imaginary proceedings. “All rise.”
Student Madison Kelley, who served as the prosecution’s lawyer, said the online posting was a “invasion of privacy.”
“They had no right to invade her privacy,” Kelley said. “They did not have her permission.”
The mock prosecution asked the defense to pay $1 million, submit a public apology and remove the video.
The defense’s lawyer, student Tiffany Venmahavong, argued her case based on the Constitution. “Because of the First Amendment, they have freedom of speech,” Venmahavong said. The mock judges ruled in favor of the defense.
“This issue (cyber bullying) is a growing concern across the United States,” Savage said. “There are concerns about the First Amendment. The question is - where do you draw the line between free speech and statements that harm someone else?”
“Please think twice about saying something mean about someone else. Try not to use the Internet to harass.”
Savage commended the students on their practice of a courtroom case. “We may have some lawyers to be in this classroom,” she said.
Wolpert also advised students about the dangers of posting personal information on online social networking sites, such as Myspace or Facebook.
“Everything you write on Myspace or Facebook is public,” he said. “People can access it. Employers can look at your Myspace page and that information can eliminate you from getting a job or getting into college. Other people can have access to those comments and that can hurt you later in life.”
Wolpert also advised students on what to do if they receive a threat through e-mail or other electronic source.
“Do not respond with e-mail if you receive a threatening message,” Wolpert said. “Tell a parent immediately. If you don’t know who’s writing to you, do not write back. E-mails can be very dangerous.”
The students were encouraged to visit the Web site, Netsmartz.org, an educational site about real scenarios involving middle school students and the Internet.
Savage, a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association, is a former member of the executive counsel for former Gov. Bruce Sundlun.
Wolpert, also a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association, has practiced law throughout the state for the past 30 years. He currently holds a private practice in Providence.