It wasn’t like anything they ever saw depicted in television
legal dramas.
But by taking part in a mock trial project some Montgomery
County students enrolled in local homeschooling programs had the opportunity recently to
obtain a comprehensive view of the criminal justice system.
More than a dozen eighth- and ninth-grade students from the
Souderton and Willow Grove areas visited courtrooms, met judges, prosecutors, court
administrators, a member of the media and other courthouse workers as they
explored vocations in the legal arena.
“I think it was exciting and encouraging for them to see the
jury box, to talk to the judge, to talk to a prosecutor and a court
administrator just to see what is involved to make this process seem as
seamless as it is at times,” said Shannan Mazlo, a homeschooling parent who
helped organize two days of visits to the courthouse.
“I think the importance of it was it’s not ‘Law and Order,’”
added fellow homeschooling parent Melissa Davis. “In our judicial system, it’s
not just a lawyer and a judge but there are other opportunities, there are
clerks, there are court reporters. There are definitely different dimensions. I
think that gives them a unique perspective.”
Mazlo and Davis are supported as homeschoolers by Classical
Conversations, a nationwide community of homeschoolers who follow a classical
model of education through a Christian worldview.
County Court Administrator Michael Kehs and Assistant
District Attorney Cara McMenamin gave the visiting students and their parents a
tour of courtrooms and answered the students’ probing questions about what it’s
like to work at a courthouse and as a prosecutor. Judge William R. Carpenter
graciously took time out of his day to address the students who sat in the jury
box. Some also took a seat in the witness box.
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| Michael Kehs and Cara McMenamin/Photo by Carl Hessler Jr. |
Sitting in the witness box, the students smiled from ear to
ear, and said the experience was awesome and also somewhat intimidating.
I also was invited to address the students briefly, during
which I explained the exciting job of being a court news reporter.
“This is the age where they can be really excited about
their futures and this can be a pivotal moment for them,” Mazlo reminded me.
“Maybe this will ignite a spark in one of the kids, that maybe this will be a
career path that they didn’t consider and will now want to pursue.”
The students were polite, energized and appeared eager to
learn about the court system and it was inspiring to see how interested the
youngsters were in the world around them. I have no doubt some of them caught
the bug to be a lawyer, a judge, and yes, even a journalist.
“Thank you for coming along with us on the tour. I really
enjoyed your explanations,” one student wrote to me in a note of thanks.
“Thank you for your time and expertise! Thank you for
sharing your perspective with us,” other students wrote.
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| Students on Mock Trial Teams/Photo by Carl Hessler Jr. |
After an initial visit and tour, the students returned to
the courthouse for a mock trial competition last month. The students observed how
a case develops from crime to conviction over the course of 15 weeks preparing
for the competition.
“They had to work through a substantial amount of
information and determine what was important to their case. They knew it so
well, they were able to present it to the judge and jury,” Mazlo said.
The jury was comprised of a panel of volunteers who indicated
they were impressed by the students’ professionalism in the courtroom.
The mock case involved that of a South Carolina man who was
charged with murder and possession of a dangerous animal after his dog fatally
mauled a teenager who went onto his property.
“There were a lot of red herrings to really cause the kids
to dig deep and figure out their strategy,” Mazlo said. “It really brought out
their critical thinking skills. A lot of the kids played dual roles as lawyers
and witnesses and so they had to think on their feet.”
Each team presented the case twice, once as the prosecution
and then as the defense, devising a strategy to defend the accused.
“I’m so proud that nerves didn’t take over. They all did
phenomenal. No one really tripped up or made any obvious mistakes,” Mazlo said.
Judge Carpenter presided over the competition and provided
the future legal eagles with advice on the handling of evidence, trial strategy
and delivery. The students said it was an honor to meet the judge.
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| Mock Trial Team/Photo by Carl Hessler Jr. |
“We are incredibly thankful for the generosity of the judge
and his willingness to give back to the community and sit in on the mock trial.
We’re so thankful he took the time to nurture the children and help educate them
about our court system,” Mazlo said.
It didn’t matter who prevailed during the trial, it was not
about winning but about showcasing the skills they learned. I believe all the
students were winners because they gained so much knowledge by participating in
the exercise.
For a few days, the students, many with dreams of public
service in their futures, were involved in something special, something
important, and something they will remember for a very long time.
Kudos to Judge Carpenter, Kehs and McMenamin for being role
models and taking time out of their hectic schedules to help mentor young
people.
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