The Foundation sponsors an annual "Open Doors to the Federal Court" in January. The event includes approximately 250 high school seniors from around Kern County. There is a mock trial presentation for the students, including Assistant U.S. Attorney, Federal Defender, and U.S. Magistrate Judge Theresa Goldner.

As part of the program, the students hear presentations from representatives of various federal agencies including the FBI, Department of Interior, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Probation Office, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Marshal's Office, Drug Enforcement Agency, China Lake Police, and others.

The Open Doors program is held at the Board of Supervisor's Chambers, and is broadcast on KGOV to the high schools.

The Open Doors program is an event that occurs throughout the United States at various federal courthouses around the country. In the Eastern District, they will conduct the Open Doors Program in Sacramento and Fresno (as they have in prior years). 2004 is the first time that Kern County has hosted the Open Doors event. The Chief Judge of the Eastern District, David Levi, requested that Bakersfield host the program.

This event has great support from the community. The Kern County Superintendent of Schools co-sponsors the event. Vickie Spivy, Events Coordinator with the Superintendent's office, is instrumental in organizing the event. This collaboration enabled us to work with educators to prepare a curriculum for the Open Doors program to allow students to learn more about the federal courts and various federal agencies. The curriculum will be distributed to the high schools prior to the event to allow the students and their teachers to build a foundation before attending the event (or before watching the broadcast of the event).