ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – On Thursday, a group of Delta County students learned firsthand how the local court system works.
Eighth graders from Holy Name Catholic School participated in a mock trial at the 47th Circuit Court. Their humanities teacher worked with a former attorney to create a thorough fictional armed robbery case, with students acting as the prosecution, the defense, witnesses, and even the bailiff.
The trial was the culmination of various concepts the students have been learning throughout the school year. Judge John Economopoulos also taught them about what it takes to have a career in the legal system.
“There’s a mixture of art and science with what a lawyer does,” he said. “… It’s not always just about, ‘The law says this and the statute says that, the court rule says that, and this case says that.’ It’s about the charisma you have to be able to communicate a message in a relatable way to your fellow citizens. If you’ve got that and you are a critical thinker, you can be an incredible lawyer. If you’re an incredible lawyer, you can do some great things with that career.”
Economopoulos says mock trials are becoming increasingly popular among schools. He says the skills and ideas a mock trial teaches are valuable for all students, whether they plan to become lawyers, law enforcement officials, or simply informed citizens.
In the end, the jury found the defendant not guilty.
