By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Last Saturday, the 34th annual Judge Charles V. Johnson Youth and Law Forum gathered students, parents, judges, law enforcement, tech professionals, and community leaders at the Tukwila Community Center. The lively event, filled with optimism and purpose, aimed to educate youth and their families on the fundamentals of the legal and criminal justice systems, opportunities in the tech industry, and the roles these fields play in shaping their futures.
“One of the worst things we can do is wait until the problem reveals itself and then complain about it,” said Judge LeRoy McCullough. “The importance of this event is that it shows the importance of prevention versus detention.”
“This is a prevention model, going upstream to help parents predict what needs to happen, what they need to do to increase the probability of a better outcome for their children. We are going upstream to talk to the children about what they do so that their future says education, not probation,” McCullough continued. “That is what this is about. The village coming together, all sorts of resources, all kinds of technological, legal expertise in this one space to tell these children and these parents that we care about you, we care about your future, and if we care about your future, it means that our community, our village, will be stronger.”
According to organizers, the Youth and Law Forum guides participants through the complexities of the legal system, helping them understand its language, processes, and potential impact on their lives. The event also introduced youth to the technology sector, offering insights into the skills and knowledge needed to pursue careers in tech. By addressing both law and technology, the forum aimed to connect the ways legal systems and emerging tech—such as artificial intelligence—intersect and influence communities now and in the future.
Supported by numerous organizations, including Black fraternities and sororities, the Seattle Police Department, and a host of judges and attorneys from municipal, county, and federal courts, the event also welcomed representatives from Silicon Valley tech companies. Special appearances by local judges and entertainer Sir Mix-a-Lot added to the day’s significance.
Judge Richard Jones spoke about the history of the forum and Judge Charles Johnson’s vision in creating the event.
“This event is beyond your imagination, amazing,” said Judge Jones. “I was here when Judge Johnson started this program so many years ago, and Judge Johnson put his heart and soul and a good significant amount of his time to make sure that this was done properly. It has grown, it continues to grow, and the fact that we continue to reach back and make a difference in young people’s lives is a passion that we all have. It’s our responsibility, and as Muhammad Ali once said at one time, ‘Helping others and reaching back to help others is part of the dues we must pay for living on this planet.’”
The forum’s sessions included seminars, workshops, and mentorship opportunities for children, teenagers, and their parents. Participants gained firsthand insights into the legal and criminal justice systems and their impacts on communities. The event emphasized representation, mentorship, and guidance, giving young attendees a roadmap to explore career paths in both law and technology, while empowering them to become positive contributors to their communities.
Fourteen-year-old Brooklyn Sims, a participant at the event, highlighted the importance of representation and access to knowledge as she interviewed Sir Mix-a-Lot during one of the day’s sessions.
“Events like this are important because it allows young people to connect with those that have the knowledge,” said Sims. “Especially those that haven’t been exposed to this type of knowledge. It’s important that we connect in programs like the Youth and Law Forum and learn what it can do for us.”
For many, the forum served as a bridge to understand the relationship between Black communities and the justice system. According to the Youth and Law Forum website, the event was created “in response to deteriorating relationships between the justice system and community youth in particular — to use contemporary illustrations and workshops to teach basic legal rights and responsibilities, to expose youth to and encourage their consideration of the breadth of justice system careers, and to build and maintain bridges between community youth and justice system participants.”
The legal and tech professionals present worked to build that bridge by offering clear, engaging information about the opportunities and challenges within each field. For many children and their families, the event provided a positive and accessible environment to discuss their experiences, learn about their rights, and envision potential career paths in areas that impact their communities.
Reflecting on the event, Sir Mix-a-Lot emphasized the value of seeing younger generations engage with community issues and take on leadership roles.
“First of all, I was interviewed by the smartest person in the room, Brooklyn. Brooklyn interviewed me, and it was fun; she asked great questions, and she was cool as a cucumber, incredible,” he said. “I had a ball; I got to see old friends that I haven’t seen since the Reagan administration. This event is significant because it is for our community, that’s exactly it. When I walked in, I was home, back on 19th and Yesler. I absolutely loved the experience being here. I found people who gave us knowledge when we were younger, getting out of the way to allow someone like Brooklyn to really have an impact, ask questions—it was cool, I thought it was great, because that is what the next generation has to do. They have to step up.”