Students pass Teen Court Bar Exam to become Teen Court Lawyers.
By James Kisselburg, Executive Director Teen Court of Chaves County inc. 8/12/09
The scene is Court Room 1 at Chaves County Court House Roswell, New Mexico,
The date is August 7, 2009, the time is 3:00 PM, a bailiff opens a side door, steps in and says in a loud voice;
“All rise, District Court is now in session, the Honorable Freddie Romero presiding”
Judge Romero follows his bailiff in to the court room wearing the black robe of his office.
Eleven teenagers sitting in the jury box are dressed in business attire stand, along with a gallery of visitors. These students, from Roswell, Goddard and Dexter High Schools were not in court because that had broken the law, but because had spent twenty hours of their summer taking law classes every Thursday afternoon in July and the first part of August, and were now in court to be sworn in as Lawyers in Teen Court.
The local student’s hard work culminated with a Bar Exam and a mock trial on Thursday, August 6, 2009 at the Teen Court Offices 403 North Richardson. One student was unable to take the exam due to a family emergency the day of the Bar Exam, but did complete the training and will be able to take the Bar exam at a late time.
The Graduates are; Victoria Patton 11th grade Dexter High School, , Lillie Moreno, 11th Dexter High School, Victoria Perez 10th grade Dexter High, Alejandria Zubiate 11th grade, Dexter High, Jessica Lopez 11th grade, Dexter High, Rolando Mendoza, 10th grade Goddard High, Ashley Basden, 10th Goddard High, Mayra Trujillo, 10th grade Roswell High, Breeannna McDaniel, 11th grade Roswell High, Abriana Garcia, 11th grade Roswell High, Ashlerose Francia 10th grade Roswell High.
Teen Court is a peer justice program where teens who have been taken into custody by law enforcement and referred to the Juvenile Probation and Parole Officer agree to plead guilty and to be judged by a jury of their peers, receiving sentences and consequences for their actions. Other teens are trained to prosecute and defend the referrals.
Teen Court has been in operation in Chaves County since January 1995. Teen Court of Chaves County Inc was formed in 1998 as a Non-Profit Corporation, has operated the program since. There are 19 other Teen Court Programs in the State of New Mexico, and over 4000 in the United States and 3 foreign Country’s.
In his comments, Judge Romero congratulated the students for their participation in Teen Court as well as their dedication to study the law. He admonished them with reference to the all pillars of Character Counts;
Trustworthiness,
Be honest • Don’t deceive, cheat or steal • Be reliable — do what you say you’ll do, when you say you will do it • Have the courage to do the right thing • Build a good reputation •
Respect
Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule • Be tolerant of differences • Use good manners, not bad language • Be considerate of the feelings of others • Deal peacefully with anger, insults and disagreements
Responsibility
Do what you are supposed to do • persevere: keep on trying! • Always do your best • Use self-control • Be self-disciplined • Think before you act — consider the consequences • Be accountable for your choices
Fairness
Play by the rules • Take turns and share • Be open-minded; listen to others • Don’t take advantage of others • Don’t blame others carelessly
Caring
Be kind • Be compassionate and show you care • Express gratitude • Forgive others • Help people in need
Citizenship
Do your share to make your school and community better • Cooperate • Get involved in community affairs • Obey laws and rules • Respect authority
The Judge concluded his remarks with; “Every Monday afternoon, I see kids in Children’s Court who have committed some serious crimes, and I have to remind myself that they are not all bad, it is refreshing to get to see young people in my court room who are not here because they are in trouble.”
These twelve students along with 25 other students from the Roswell Independent School District’s “Gear Up” program have been volunteering their time to Teen Court every other Tuesday night over the last 9 months as peer jurors.
“An open invitation was made giving those who wanted to, the opportunity to take their participation to another level by learning to be Peer Attorneys, These students signed up” Said James Kisselburg Executive Director of Teen Court of Chaves County Inc.
The teachers of this impromptu law school are real lawyers John Legg and Greg Bassi Law Clerks for United States Federal Judge Bobby Baldock. The students learned subjects such as Court Room etiquette, Direct and Cross Examination, Hearsay, Opening Statements and Closing Arguments, Public Speaking and other lawyer “tools of the trade” that real lawyers use everyday.
The skills that the students learn will allow them to prosecute and defend other teens that appear in Teen Court to be sentenced by a jury of their peers.
“It was a pleasure to work with such motivated young people” John Legg said.
John Legg and Greg Bassi recognized the top three of the class by presenting Starbucks gift certificates to, Ashley Basden and Mayra Trujillo, along with Victoria Patton (who had the highest score of 100% on the Bar Exam).
Parents, family members and friends attended the auspicious occasion, as well as a reception immediately after all the graduates received Certificates of appointment to Teen Court, were presented by Judge Romero.