eighthjdcourt

Mike Kamer with Project REAL, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization prepared students at their school for the mock trial in court.

Fourth graders try on the role of lawyer.

Judge Adrianna Escobar works with students from Hickey Elementary to ensure their mock trial goes smoothly.

Dept. 20 Marshal Bruce Schvaneveldt gives Hickey student an opportunity to try on the role of marshal.

Judge Linda Bell readies a junior judge as she takes the bench.

Judge Adrianna Escobar works with students from Hickey Elementary to ensure their mock trial goes smoothly.

Judge Tierra Jones provided insight to fourth graders who visited her courtroom. Marshal Brian Hernandez served as a role model for a junior marshal in court.

Four fourth grade classes from Liliam Lujan Hickey Elementary School experienced justice in action at the Eighth Judicial District Court in early April. They  also got a view on where life-choices lead when they sat in on actual criminal calendars and saw judges, court employees and attorneys perform their jobs. They watched defendants in various stages of their cases, including sentencing. After viewing the calendar, students asked judges questions about  what they saw, and how and why it works that way. The Q&A session was followed by a mock trial of Harry Potter, who was charged with misappropriation of magic. The school visits are part of a new joint program between nonprofit agency Project Real, the District Court and schools.

After fourth graders sat through his criminal calendar, Judge Doug Herndon took their questions.

Junior jurors take in all the facts so they can give a good verdict in mock trial with Judge David Jones.

Judge David Jones helped to keep Hickey students on track as they did the Harry Potter mock trial.

Judge David Jones’ Dept. 29 came dressed for success for the Harry Potter mock trial. JEA Susan Linn, law clerk Michael Coggeshall, court reporter Melissa Delgado.

Students try their hand a being a judge.

Dept. 29 marshal Laquedra Parks gives a student a shot at being a marshal.

District Court Judge Doug Herndon envisioned this mock trial program. He wrote the script to provide a fun and interesting method for young students to learn about the justice system. The activities promote the importance of education, highlight potential legal careers and demonstrate the outcome of bad choices. “This program is a good way for young students to see the legal profession in action. When they watch actual court proceedings, they see the unfortunate consequences of criminal activity,” said Judge Herndon. “The mock trials give the students a way to relate to and understand the justice system, and see career roles that they may want to consider in the future.”

Student playing Harry Potter sworn in prior to testimony in mock trial.

Teachers from Hickey elementary school brought their students to court to get a first hand look at justice in action.

Judge David Jones and his JEA Susan Linn lsiten to testimony in mock trial.

Hickey fourth graders asked good questions and performed the roles of judges, attorneys, witnesses and jurors in a mock trial.

Students played the roles of court clerk and judge as Judge Tierra Jones looked on.

Project REAL, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, was founded in 2005 by Sam Lionel and Irwin Molasky to meet the challenge of teaching K-12th grade Nevada students the importance of the law. They have taught over 160,000 Nevada students about the importance of the law with the goal of preparing them to be informed, law-abiding and participating citizens through their programs Your Day in Court, Play By the Rules, REAL Drama, and Independence & You. For more information from Project REAL, please contact Program Director Mike Kamer at mkamer@projectrealnv.org, call 702.703.6529, or visit http://projectrealnv.org.

Fourth graders make their case in Harry Potter mock trial.

Judge Tierra Jones provided insight to fourth graders who visited her courtroom. Marshal Brian Hernandez served as a role model for a junior marshal in court.

Teacher from Hickey Elementary watches junior jurors deliberating.

Hickey fourth graders played all the roles in mock trial as Judge Eric Johnson helps them navigate the process.

Judge Tierra Jones let this student take her seat at the bench.

Students sat in on the criminal calendar of Judge Valerie Adair followed by an Q&A session.

Judge Eric Johnson takes student jurors into actual jury deliberation room for their mock trial deliberation.

Fourth graders from Hickey Elementary took their role as jurors very seriously.

The mock trial program is intended to contrast the view of careers in the justice system against the choice to get involved in criminal activity. This collaboration between the courts, Project Real and Hickey Elementary School involved a lot of work on the part of the judges and their departments in District Court, Project Real, and the teachers. Thanks to the many people who helped to make it come together so that the students could benefit from a real-world perspective.

Tags: Clark County Education, District Court Judge Tierra Jones, Education, Eighth Judicial District Court, Harry Potter, Hickey Elementary, Judge Adriana Escobar, Judge David Jones, Judge Doug Herndon, Judge Douglas Herndon, Judge Eric Johnson, Judge Linda Bell, Judge Tierra Jones, Judge Valerie Adair, Laquedra Parks, Las Vegas, Las Vegas Education, Las Vegas Mock Trial, Liliam Lujan Hickey Elementary School, Mike Kamer, Mock trial, mock trials Las Vegas, Project REAL, Susan Linn