Students of Anacostia High School’s Public Leadership Academy (PLA) visited Catholic Law on Wednesday, June 7, as part of a mock trial exercise co-directed by Catholic Law alumnus Ray Santiago ’02. Santiago, along with his colleague Theron Marshall, represented the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), a component of the Department of Justice (DOJ) that partners with PLA to foster high school students’ interest in pursuing law school.

Katherine G. Crowley, Associate Dean of Administration and Dean of Students, representing Catholic Law, began the morning’s event by welcoming the students and introducing Santiago and Marshall. They each introduced themselves, giving their backstories and explaining in brief the life trajectories that led them to studying law and working for ATF. Afterward, Santiago and Marshall helped the students draft opening statements as part of their mock trial exercise. Dean Crowley later gave the students a tour of the Catholic Law building. The Anacostia students also visited the headquarters of ATF.