Students from various juvenile facilities throughout the state will come to the Maryland Court of Appeals in Annapolis on Wednesday, Nov. 20, to take part in the 25th Annual Maryland Department of Juvenile Services (DJS) Oratorical Contest. The theme of this year’s contest is “Building Bridges.”

Court of Appeals Judge Clayton Greene, Jr. (ret.), a panel of judges, and a courtroom of families and supporters will listen as the finalists deliver short speeches inspired by the poem, “The Bridge Builder,” by Will Allen Dromgoole. The contestants earned their places in the finals by winning oratorical competitions held in each of Maryland’s DJS facilities. The Court of Appeals is hosting the event, which is co-sponsored by DJS and the Maryland State Department of Education. Members of the media are invited to attend.

WHAT: 25th Annual Maryland Department of Juvenile Services and
Maryland State Department of Education Oratorical Contest

WHO: Maryland Court of Appeals Judge Clayton Greene, Jr., presiding
Students from Maryland’s DJS facilities

WHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 20, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

WHERE: Maryland Court of Appeals, 361 Rowe Blvd., Annapolis, Md. 21401

WATCH THE VIDEO: Watch a short video that shows highlights from a past contest.

NOTE: Please contact the Maryland Judiciary, Government Relations and Public Affairs, by email at [email protected] or 410-260-1488, if you plan to attend or have questions about the event. Photography and videography are allowed, but photographers must follow certain restrictions in accordance with DJS policies. Students can be interviewed, but their faces cannot be shown, and they cannot be identified by name, address, or offense. The video, linked above, complies with these restrictions.

For clarification of these restrictions, please contact the DJS Public Information Officer:
Eric Solomon, Director of Communications
Maryland Department of Juvenile Services
[email protected]
410-230-3164 (office)
443-492-9781 (cell)

###