All rise! Judge Phe’Licia Thompson’s court is now in session at Rudder High School. This month, Thompson has been leading her criminal justice students through a mock trial where she is the presiding judge. In her classroom that has been converted into a courtroom, her students take on the roles of witnesses, defendants, plaintiffs, attorneys, bailiffs, jurors, court reporters and spectators.
This is the fourth year Thompson has helped her students get a first-hand look at the legal system in her classroom. She said the students have been working diligently to prepare for their parts in the mock trial.
“[It] will showcase our students' hard work and understanding of courtroom procedures, legal principles, and trial strategies,” she said.
This year the trial is based on the children’s tale The Three Little Pigs with Billy Bob Wolf on trial.
“This is a great opportunity for everyone to see a real-world application of the justice system and for classes to engage in an interactive and educational experience,” Thompson said.
The students in the court’s gallery as spectators serve a role also as they provide critiques of the students actively participating in the trial.
The trials are expected to conclude on Monday, Oct. 7, and Thompson plans to have another round of mock trials during the spring semester.
