Mock trial lets youth learn about how judicial system works
Every student at one point dreams of something like this happening: local teacher Ms. Thompson is on the stand and a young “Perry Mason” holds up the large stack of returned homework covered in red and proclaims ‘it is just too much for the youth of today to handle!’
The jury didn’t take long during this past Friday morning’s session and found their teacher guilty, which isn’t surprising since the prosecution, defense and the 12 young men and women in the box are all fellow students.
All this to teach students a lesson about how courtrooms work in Polk County as part of an ongoing outreach program to schools now headed up by Judge Andrew Roper, who said on social media over the weekend that he’s excited to bring more youth into the courthouse so they can experience the judicial system firsthand.
Chief Assistant District Attorney Jaeson Smith for the Tallapoosa Circuit Superior Court explained over the weekend that the visit by Eastside Elementary students is just one of the many hundreds of youth who have taken part in mock trials. The goal was to ensure that youth understand how court works and educate them as well on the third branch of government to ensure rights. The more than a decade-old program is looking to further expand into Polk County with this second trip to the courthouse by Eastside students.
“I’ve been fortunate to be able to present this program to over 2,500 fifth graders during that time,” Smith said.
The program began by Judge Mike Murphy some 14 years ago in Haralson County is being carried on by Judge Andrew Roper, and hopes are to bring more students into the courtroom for the experience.
“With the help of Judge Roper, we expect every fifth grade student in Polk and Haralson Counties will get experience the mock trial this year,” he said.
The mock trial didn’t go so well for the teacher, who was convicted for “giving too much homework.”
Students did all of the work in the mock trial, minus acting as judge, who of course was represented by Judge Andrew Roper. Ms. Thompson did get the chance to take the stand in her own defense to explain the benefits of homework, but it didn’t go over well with the jury filled with her own fifth graders against her.
Fortunately for Thompson, Roper was lenient in his sentence and only gave the students the night off from any assignments.
