Speaking to seventh and eighth grade students, Bianco discussed the structure of the court system, how judges are appointed and the importance of judicial independence.
He also highlighted the ideals laid out in the Declaration of Independence and explained the various roles and responsibilities within a courtroom.
Bianco encouraged students to pursue their goals and stressed that hard work and determination can open doors to endless opportunities.
During the presentation, Bianco shared details about his own path to the federal bench, including his studies at Georgetown University and Columbia Law School, as well as his work as a terrorism prosecutor and chief of the Organized Crime and Terrorism Unit before becoming a judge.
Bianco served as a United States District Court judge for the Eastern District of New York beginning in 2006 before later serving on the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Throughout his judicial career, he presided over several high-profile cases, including prosecutions involving the violent MS-13 gang.
Before joining the bench, Bianco worked as senior counsel and deputy assistant attorney general for the U.S. Department of Justice Criminal Division and also served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York.
He additionally spent time in private practice at prominent law firms Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP.School officials said the visit gave students a unique opportunity to connect classroom lessons about civics and American history with real-world legal experience from one of the nation’s most accomplished jurists.