by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
On March 28 at the Duval County Courthouse, students from Volusia, Flagler, Clay and Nassau counties will compete in a mock trial competition as part of the Teen Court program.
“This is really just a really good way for our kids to get a taste of the courtroom,” said Deborah Mueller, a teen court coordinator from Clay County. “It teaches kids about how the legal process works.”
This is the third year that the competition has been held.
Teen Court is a program allowing first time offenders under the age of 18 a second chance, while holding them accountable for their offenses. The teen offender will stand before a jury of their peers and accept whatever sanctions they decide upon. Every position in Teen Court, aside from the judge, is held by teens. Chief Judge Donald Moran is expected to be one of the presiding judges.
“It has been a very successful program,” said Mueller. “We have been very pleased.”
Starting at 9 a.m., the students — whom Mueller claims often want to go on to become practicing attorneys — enter the courtroom to try the case from either a prosecutor’s or defense attorney’s standpoint. Sides are predetermined a few weeks in advance.
Two 90-minute trials will take place this time. Each team, which will be scored on a point system by a panel of judges, is given 45 minutes to plead their case. Points will be awarded for many aspects, including opening statements and direct and cross examinations.
“The teams have been preparing since January,” said Mueller. “There has been a lot of work and preparation going into this and the kids are doing it all themselves.”
According to Mueller, coaches for the various teams are only there to offer advice. The bulk of the research and presentations are done by the students.
“My role as a coach is, primarily, to show them how to work as a team,” said Mueller. “The cases are never cut and dry or gender specific, so it’s important that they work together.”
This year’s fictitious case involves a student who has broken into his school, vandalized it and changed his grades.
At the end of the day, awards will be presented for best witness, best defense and prosecuting attorneys and best team overall. The outcome of the case does not affect scoring.
“This is a great and beneficial extension of teen court and they learn so much more this way,” said Mueller. “It’s also a lot of fun.”