Tue Feb 09 2010
By LISA NICELY
PAULDING -- More than 200 Paulding County high school students witnessed the Ohio Supreme Court justices in action Wednesday at the county courthouse.
Students from Antwerp, Paulding and Wayne Trace high schools took part in the Ohio Supreme Court's off-site program, held during the morning in the common pleas courtroom.
The court justices heard oral arguments in four cases. Students from each high school could hear one of the cases and afterwards ask questions and discuss legal issues in the arguments with attorneys outside the courtroom.
"It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Kacee Hockenberry, a junior at Wayne Trace.
Wayne Trace junior Andrea Padilla said she learned a lot.
"It was interesting," Padilla said, adding she learned a person may plead no contest to charges. That means he or she doesn't dispute the facts presented, but is not pleading guilty.
Wayne Trace seniors Jason Miller and Joe Grant also thought sitting in on the cases was "cool."
"I've never been to a court case before," said Miller.
Paulding High School senior Trenton Bradford said the murder case he and others listened to was interesting. He also liked other parts of the program as well.
"I liked learning about the personal lives of the Supreme Court justices," he said.
After the hearings, there was a reception for the seven court justices at the Paulding Kiwanis Community Center. Students and justices alike addressed the crowd about the learning opportunities the off-site program brought to Paulding.
"What a great learning opportunity this has been," said Paulding senior Jared Ross, who spoke at the reception. "I will not tell a lie. I have always disliked social studies. ... It wasn't until witnessing a trial that I had an interest in government. I know many other students have been affected in one way or another, too."
Paulding senior Taylor Hatcher praised the justices for their work and for the program.
"How many kids can say they saw you guys (the justices) in action?" she said. "It's amazing."
The justices and local judges praised the program for getting youths interested in the judicial system.
"This program works only with the cooperation of local judges, local bar associations and educators," said Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer. "The students who observed the cases studied them thanks to local educators. ... It's very important to all seven of us for our young people to see and learn about our democratic institutions and see how they function."
Justice Paul Pfeifer said it's important to realize that the Supreme Court is the final place disputes get determined in the state.
"We are not perfect, but we are final," he said. "Today was an opportunity for students to see cases from the front end. They see interaction between lawyers and the court."
Paulding County Court Judge Tiffany Reighter-Beckman, who was instrumental in bringing the off-site program to the county, said the program has been very beneficial.
"I know the program has impacted our students," she said. "This will forever influence their vision of the Ohio Supreme Court and the justice system."
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