10/31/2008
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Staff photo by Andy Molloyfrom the Kennebec Journal
QUESTIONS REMAIN
No complaints from those who switched to Somerset County center
Vote on 1 may hurt some in election
Steeple at center of debate in Whitefield
VETERANS REQUIRE ASSISTANCE: Homelessness takes center stage
J.P. DEVINE: Overcome sadness with hope
BASKETBALL: NBA Hall of Famer Barry doles out advice at Thomas College
HIGH SCHOOL CROSS COUNTRY: Maranacook sophomore Mace dominates Class B field
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
A year later, families await answers on fatalities
Owner of topless coffee shop on the comeback trail
Officials report cheaper, better service after switch
Two people in critical condition
Young Marines stick to program
Issue of homeless veterans at center stage
GIRLS SOCCER STATE CHAMPIONSHIP: Winslow falls to York in Class B
Bard hits her marathon stride
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
For Cony High School teacher Jennifer Tripp, seeing LaRochelle return to the school was another validation of her career.
LaRochelle, a star athlete and scholar who graduated from Cony in 1998, sat on the high school stage this week to serve as bailiff for the Maine Supreme Judicial Court during oral arguments held at the school.
She shared the stage with the seven justices of the supreme court, called the court to order, controlled the timing of the arguments and closed the session after the third case.
"All rise. God save the state of Maine and this honorable court," she declared at the end of the session.
"She's made it to the big time," Tripp said, watching her former student at work. "It's so nice to see a student we've had in class and they make it this far."
LaRochelle, 29, now of Portland, is one of the 10 people serving as yearlong clerks for the law court.
LaRochelle said she was pleased to be in the role of bailiff at her alma mater.
"Justice (Donald) Alexander suggested it," she said.
LaRochelle is one of two law clerks assigned to Alexander for this year.
A June 2008 graduate from Ohio State School of Law, LaRochelle is to be sworn in to the Maine Bar today.
Her parents are members of the Bar, as well.
Her father, Fernand LaRochelle, recently retired as an assistant attorney general and her mother, Rae Ann French, is a judge, active retired, on the Maine District Court. Active retired judges are appointed by the governor and work part-time.
LaRochelle, who graduated from Brown University in 2002, then went into law school after working for several years in the Boston financial district, French said.
"I'm very proud of her and happy for her," Fernand LaRochelle said. "It seems she's truly enjoying herself,"
Approximately 10 new lawyers are to be sworn in as members of the Maine Bar today in Kennebec County Superior Court by Alexander, an associate justice of the Maine Supreme Court.
"Lauren is doing a wonderful job for me," Alexander said. "She has a lot of understanding of the system from her parents and superb training from Ohio State University School of Law. The couple of years in the working world helps give a perspective the others don't have. She's very reserved, extremely bright and very hard working."
Alexander recalled two other Cony graduates among the law clerks who worked at the Maine Supreme Court: Lynn Kenoyer and Rob Hatch, both of whom worked for the court during 2000-01.
"They were in the last decade," Alexander said. "There may have been others before that."
LaRochelle's parents came to watch and talk with their daughter on Monday -- as did other members of the family.
Lauren LaRochelle kept an eye out for other very familiar faces: Paul Vachon, who coached her 1998 state championship basketball team and is now athletic director for Augusta schools; and teachers still on staff at Cony, including Tom Wells and Carolyn Van Horn.
"I looked online to see who was still here," LaRochelle said.
The Cony building she attended is mostly gone, and the new one hosted the supreme court in the William and Elsie Viles Auditorium.
"It's just such an impressive place," LaRochelle said of the newer high school.
Betty Adams -- 621-5631
badams@centralmaine.com
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