Intro:

The 9th District Court of Appeals held two court hearings at the Stowe-Munroe Falls High School Wednesday morning.

There were about 500 people including students and teachers in attendance. Spenser Etzel was there to find out what it was like and why the court was there.

Length: 01:56

CG: Clair Dickinson (Presiding Judge): 00:42

Carla Moore (Judge on Court of Appeals): 00:47

Trina Poole (Social Studies Teacher) : 01: 05

Ashley James (Student) : 01: 26

(NAT): Judges enter

The 9th District Court of Appeals includes five judges while three showed up to the hearing; the presiding judge, Clair Dickinson; Carla Moore and Donna Carr.

Two cases were heard at the Stow-Munroe Falls High School.

The attorneys on both sides of the case are the ones who show up to the District of Appeals.

After the first hearing, students were allowed to ask questions to the judges about the job itself, not specifically about the cases.

NAT: Students asking questions.

And after the second hearing, students were again allowed to ask questions.

NAT: Judge bangs the gavel

The judges love doing this because they are able to teach students about the court system.

SOT (Dickinson): SO THAT IF THEY EVER COME TO COURT, THEY WILL KNOW A LITTLE MORE ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON.

SOT (Moore): THIS GIVES THEM AN OPPORTUNITY TO COME AND SIT IN, FOR ALL INTESINSEIVE PURPOSES, A REAL COURTROOM WITH REAL LAWYERS ARGUING REAL CASES AND WITH REAL JUDGES.

They also want the students to see a different side of them.

The teachers love it because they are able to bring the real world to the classroom.

SOT (Poole): A GOAL FOR EDUCATION IS TO CREATE REAL LIFE EXPERIENCES FOR STUDENTS. NOT EVERYTHING THAT THEY NEED TO LEARN IS DONE IN THE CLASSROOM

Students were very engaged and quiet during the cases and they seem to appreciate this opportunity.

SOT (James): IT WAS ACTUALLY REALLY FUN. I’VE NEVER ACTUALLY BEEN FIRSTHAND WITH A REAL COURT HEARING. IN SIXTH GRADE I HAD A FAKE COURT HEARING AND I WAS THE JUDGE. I THOUGHT IT WAS COOL TO SEE A REAL JUDGE IN ACTION.

STANDUP: THIS HAS BEEN THE SECOND TIME IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS THAT STOW-MUNROE FALLS HIGH SCHOOL HAS HELD THE COURTROOM IN THE CLASSROOM. BECAUSE OF THE GREAT RECEPTION FROM STUDENTS, TEACHERS HOPE THIS ISN’T THE LAST TIME. FOR TV2 NEWS, I’M SPENSER ETZEL.

Tag: For more information about the 9th District of Appeals, go to W W W DOT NINTH DOT COURTS DOT STATE DOT OH DOT US.