May 21, 2024 |
Photo – Carbon County Courthouse – Bigfoot99 file photo
Fifth graders from around the county will participate in a judicial learning day sponsored by the Carbon County Bar Association.
The students will attempt to resolve “The Case of the Stolen Lunch.”
Starting at 9:00 this morning, over 120 of the county’s 5th graders will take part in a mock trial at the Carbon County Courthouse and tour the local jail.
Bigfoot99 spoke to Carbon County District Court Staff Attorney Gwendolyn Wade about the event. Wade, who asked that her voice not be used on air, said half of the students will participate in the mock trial at the courthouse while the other half will visit the Carbon County Jail. At noon, the two teams will swap places.
The mock trial is titled, “The Case of the Stolen Lunch.” Wade said the kids were given the script roughly a week and a half ago. The students chose from among themselves who will play the victim, defense attorney, witnesses, and members of the jury.
While the first group of students is participating in the mock trial, the second group will be touring the Carbon County Detention Center.
Wade said the kids won’t get to meet any prisoners, however. Instead, they’ll get to see where the guards work when they aren’t watching the inmates.
At noon, the two teams will switch, with the first group going to the jail and the second group performing the same mock trial.
Wade said this year’s 5th Grade Judicial Learning Day is the first one to include students from across the county. In the past, the event was only open to students from Rawlins. Wade said this year’s participating class consists of kids from Rawlins, Saratoga, and Baggs.
Registration for this morning’s event has closed. Wade said students who want to watch the mock trial are welcome to come to the Carbon County Courthouse, located at 415 West Pine Street in Rawlins. However, only kids pre-registered for the event will be permitted to tour the jail.
Wade said the Carbon County Bar Association holds the 5th Grade Judicial Learning Day to ensure the students receive a civics lesson at an early age.
Today’s 5th Grade Judicial Learning Day begins at 9:00am. The two teams of students will take turns touring the Carbon County Jail and taking part in a mock trial in the Carbon County Courthouse.
For more information about the Carbon County Bar Association’s 5th Grade Judicial Learning Day, call Carbon County District Court Staff Attorney Gwendolyn Wade at 328-2685.
