AG RECEIVES AN "A"
Milgram visits
Franklin H.S.
By Pamela
Sroka-Holzmann, thnt Online, March 25, 2008
FRANKLIN, Mar 21 — Anne
Milgram fielded a range of questions Thursday from high schoolers as the state
attorney general addressed human trafficking, illegal immigration and an array
of other issues.
The Franklin High School students were all part of the Honors Institute of
Political and Legal Education class and Model United Nations Club, led by
teacher Louis Guglielmo. Guglielmo, a teacher for 14 years at the high
school, is a East Brunswick High School alumunus, where Milgram also graduated.
"This was a chance to talk to the students and to remember the good old days,"
Milgram said about being in high school.
Milgram, who grew up in East Brunswick, went on to graduate summa cum laude from
Rutgers College in 1992 with a degree in English and political science, and
received a master of philosophy in social and political theory in 1993 from the
Cambridge University.
She received her law degree from New York University in 1996 and clerked for
U.S. District Court Judge Anne E. Thompson in Trenton from 1996 to 1997.
Milgram began her career in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office in 1997.
By 2001, she was working in the criminal section of the civil-rights division of
the U.S. Department of Justice, where she rose to become the lead federal
prosecutor in the nation for human-trafficking crimes. She became first
assistant attorney general in 2006 and 17 months later was sworn in as the
state's 57th attorney general on June 29, 2007 —- after she was nominated by
Gov. Jon S. Corzine and unanimously confirmed by the state Senate.
About 15 students —-with hopes of majoring in law and political science in
college —-had the opportunity to ask Milgram about her career experience and
political issues they were studying in the classroom.
Several students were interested in the investigation of whether "Juicy Campus,"
a campus-gossip Web site, violates state laws that protect against consumer
fraud.
"Juicy Campus" has sparked outrage on campuses across the country for publishing
hateful or malicious comments about students, posted by anonymous users.
It is under investigation by the state Attorney General's Office, which is
looking into whether the Web site is violating consumer-fraud laws in the state.
"They wanted to know if their First Amendment rights were being violated,"
Milgram said, noting the issue is being investigated.
Milgram's position is that "Juicy Campus" may be violating the state's Consumer
Fraud Act by suggesting that it doesn't allow offensive material but providing
no enforcement of that rule — and no way for users to report or dispute the
material.
Sharlene Laud, 17, a junior at the high school, was interested in learning if
letters sent to state legislators are effective. Milgram told her that one
person can make a difference and offered the example of Patricia's Law — named
for a woman who remains missing after leaving her Bogota home in 2001. The
law ensures police cannot refuse to accept such reports and must notify the
missing person's family of support services.
"I learned that one person did all this," Laud said.
Regarding gang violence, students said they felt safer knowing Milgram is
backing after-school activities and mentoring programs.
"All of her ideas are visible and, we should have them at Franklin High School,"
Laud said.
The students also learned Milgram prosecuted two of the largest international
sex-trafficking cases and one of the first cases ever under the Trafficking
Victims Protection Act of 2000. In United States v. Jimenez Calderon et
al, Milgram prosecuted multiple defendants who lured young Mexican girls to
the United States and forced them, through physical violence and threats, to
engage in prostitution. The women were held captive in a home in
Plainfield.
The students learned Milgram also has expanded police powers regarding illegal
immigrants. She has instructed the New Jersey State Police to inform
federal authorities when an illegal immigrant is arrested in an indictable crime
or for drunken driving. In August 2007, in the wake of a triple-murder in
Newark in which previously arrested illegal immigrants may have been involved,
she said that she wanted local, county and state police to hand more serious
cases directly to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
"They learned the Attorney General's Office is in good hands," Guglielmo said
about his class. "For them, it was a way to learn from a role model."
Greg Williams, 18, a senior who wants to pursue a double major in history and
economics and a minor in religious studies, said: "We asked questions to
raise awareness and let her know we are involved. I think she addressed
those issues. It was enlightening."
Franklin High School Principal Howard J. Lucks added about the program: "I
thought it was terrific. I was very proud of the students for asking some
pointed questions, and I think the attorney general enjoyed the exchange."
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