For more than three decades, the Judge Charles V. Johnson Youth and Law Forum has brought young people face to face with judges, attorneys, police officers and other professionals to help them better understand their rights, the justice system and the decisions that can shape their futures.
That mission continues this Saturday, Nov. 14, when the 36th annual forum returns to Tukwila with educator and former state superintendent candidate Erin Jones serving as the event’s keynote speaker. The forum will feature interactive workshops, courtroom activities and discussions addressing police encounters, the school-to-prison pipeline, mental health, bullying and online safety. Former Seattle SuperSonics star Shawn Kemp is also scheduled to participate in a student-led discussion that organizer Bobby Alexander expects will explore personal growth, the consequences of decisions made in the moment and how people move forward after mistakes.
Established in 1990 through First African Methodist Episcopal Church, the forum grew out of concerns about the relationship between young people and the justice system. Today, organizers say its purpose extends beyond teaching legal rights to building relationships between communities and the people who work within the justice system.
Alexander, a Clark County prosecutor involved in organizing this year’s event, said that work remains particularly important in communities where generations of difficult encounters with law enforcement have contributed to distrust.
“I think the primary mission is always going to be to humanize our law enforcement members, but also to create a bridge to the community through that humanization,” said Alexander.
Alexander acknowledged the history of strained relationships between law enforcement and communities of color, particularly the Black community, as well as the impact of widely circulated videos documenting negative police encounters. He said the forum provides an opportunity to address those concerns while introducing young people to professionals who see public service as a responsibility to their communities.
“We want to show that that’s not all law enforcement, and that members of our community who join law enforcement are interested in keeping our community safe, and showing that police can be a force for good, a force for protection, a force for lawfulness,” said Alexander.
For organizers, that conversation is not limited to young people who have experienced trouble at school or encounters with police. The forum is intended to give students practical knowledge before they find themselves facing difficult decisions.
Alexander said one of the most important lessons involves understanding what to do when questioned by law enforcement. In his experience as a prosecutor, young people sometimes believe they can explain their way out of a situation without recognizing how their own statements might be used.
“I think the biggest thing with young people is that they have overconfidence in their communication skills. It’s not uncommon for young folks to believe that they can talk their way out of a situation, and they don’t necessarily understand that law enforcement is allowed to use a ruse, as the law calls it, a trick in order to get to the truth,” said Alexander.
He said the combination can lead young people to make admissions without understanding the consequences or recognizing when they should exercise their right to remain silent and request an attorney.
“And I’m saying that as a prosecutor, because I see admissions from people in scenarios where, if they didn’t say what happened, I would have no way of knowing what happened,” said Alexander.
The forum also recognizes that the challenges facing young people are not confined to interactions with police. Parents and guardians will have opportunities to learn about issues affecting their children, including social media, artificial intelligence and the risks associated with online activity.
Alexander said parents may not always understand the digital environments their children navigate or the consequences that can follow a decision made online.
“Right now, your kid is using the internet. The internet now has tools like AI and social media. [Mistakes] on social media can ruin reputations forever and can also make you unemployable, but there are also predators there. So as a parent, if you’re not using the tool the same way as your child, you need to understand the risks that are associated with that,” said Alexander.
Rather than relying exclusively on lectures, the forum will give participants opportunities to ask questions, examine real-world scenarios and hear different perspectives on how the justice system works.
Alexander said organizers have intentionally assembled a diverse group of professionals, including prosecutors, public defenders, judges, police officers, educators, mental health specialists and medical professionals. The goal is to expose young people to people from different backgrounds and to show them the range of careers available in those fields.
“In almost every session you’re going to encounter both male and female counterparts who work in criminal justice as a public defender, prosecutor, judge and police officer. So literally in every single session, we’re trying to cover the gamut of the criminal process, so that at every stop along the way, you’ll see all of the people who are represented there,” said Alexander.
A morning panel on the school-to-prison pipeline is expected to feature Dunlap Elementary School Principal Chelsea Adams-Fields, Jones, a police officer, a mental health professional and a public defender who works with youth.
Other workshops will focus on mental health for young people and adults, bullying and the challenges families face as children grow older.
Among the day’s interactive activities will be a simulated jury trial in which students examine a case involving a head injury. Participants will consider whether the injury was caused by the defendant’s alleged actions or resulted from a previous medical condition, introducing them to the role of medical evidence in legal proceedings.
Alexander said he plans to bring Black physicians into the exercise, giving students an opportunity to learn from medical professionals while seeing how different disciplines intersect.
“That’s important because I want kids to see the intersection between medicine and law. And I’m going to bring in doctors that I personally know to do that. They will also be Black. So you’re going to see everybody there, people that look like you, who do the things that we want our kids to do in their professional lives,” said Alexander.
The forum will conclude with an opportunity for participants to revisit questions raised throughout the day. The closing discussion is expected to include Alexander, Judge Nyjat Rose-Akins, Judge LeRoy McCullough and Dr. Margaret Spearmon, bringing perspectives from prosecution, the judiciary and social work.
Alexander said the broader goal is for students to leave with a better understanding of the justice system, greater confidence in navigating challenging situations and a clearer picture of the opportunities available to them.
The 36th annual Judge Charles V. Johnson Youth and Law Forum will take place Saturday, Nov. 14, from 8:30 a.m. to approximately 3 p.m. at The Church by the Side of the Road, 3455 S. 148th St., and Tukwila Municipal Court, 15005 Tukwila International Blvd.
Admission is free, and advance registration is optional. Families may register in person beginning at 8 a.m. Both locations are near the Tukwila International Boulevard light rail station.
For more information or to register in advance, visit youthandlaw.com.
