Judge brings law, justice to life for students

By Lisa Morales - Archbishop Curley Notre Dame HS

MIAMI | Last week, 11th Circuit Court Judge Adalberto Jordan returned to his high school alma mater to speak at Archbishop Curley Notre Dame Prep's 8th annual Red Mass and Law Symposium.

"The Law Symposium is important to reconnect alumni to the school and allow current students to recognize the nexus between what they are learning and what happens in the outside world," said Douglas Romanik, ACND principal. "Judge Jordan made interpretation of the law and justice living concepts for the students to understand and apply in their own lives."

Judge Jordan, the first Cuban-born judge to serve on the Atlanta-based U.S. appellate court, was nominated by President Obama on Aug. 2, 2011 and confirmed by the Senate on Feb. 15, 2012 by an overwhelming 94-5 vote.

Miami attorney John De Leon, who graduated from Archbishop Curley in 1980 and has been friends with Judge Jordan since then, moderated the event. De Leon is managing shareholder of the Law Offices of Chavez & De Leon, P.A. and past president of the American Civil Liberties Union, Greater Miami Chapter.

Also known as the Lawyers' Mass, the term Red Mass refers to the red vestments worn by the celebrants to signify the Holy Spirit, where participants pray for wisdom as they endeavor to seek justice. The celebration was first held in the United States in 1928.

Past facilitators of the law symposium (all Archbishop Curley High School and Notre Dame Academy alumni) were: 2012 - John De Leon, AC '80; 2011 - Honorable Cecilia Maria Altonaga, NDA '80, federal judge, Southern District of Florida; 2010 - Honorable Beatrice Avgherino Butchko, NDA '81, 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida; 2009 - Dennis Ward, AC '69, Monroe County State Attorney; 2008 - Thomas Valerius, AC '58, defense attorney; 2007 - Edward ODonnell,  AC '62, defense attorney; and 2006 - Honorable Rosemary Barkett, NDA '57, U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit.