Thu. Mar 28th, 2024

It was a day to see how proceedings take place at the District Justice level. Tyrone elementary students led by their teacher Luke Rhoades participated in a mock trial in District Justice Fred Miller’s courtroom.
“I thought it was a good opportunity for the students to participate in a mock trial,” said Miller. “They had the chance to tour the offices, sit in an actual courtroom and meet a Tyrone police officer and a state trooper.
The senario for the mock trial was that Rhoades was under the age of 21 and allegedly been drinking, became loud at a Tyrone football game and shoved a person at the game.
Trooper John Feather from the State Police provided the prosecutions’s case and Rhoades defended himself.
Thomas Hawes assisted Miller as a judge and the remaing students made the jury.
“The kids were very attentive to the charges and testimony of the defendant, officer and witnesses,” said Rhoades. “I was pleased with the way they responded to this learning experience.”
After the testimony was completed, Rhoades was found not guilty of underage drinking, not guilty of harassment but guilty of disorderly conduct.
“I thought it was a good experience for the kids to meet the people involved in their local justice system,” said Rhoades. “I believe they are more aware of what is punishable and what could come about from something as simple as pushing someone could bring a big fine or even jail time.”
District Justice Miller was happy to participate in the mock trial.
“It was an excellent opportunity for the judicial system and law enforcement to have a walk through with the juveniles,” said Miller. “We took them through a typical situation that juveniles come before the court. Trooper Feather and I took questions from the students after the mock trial was over and talked to them about about drugs, underage drinking, truency and loitering and the penalties that are involved with the offenses.”
Officer Jeff Dillig of the Tyrone police department also talked to the students about the ordinances in Tyrone dealing with curfew, loitering and skateboarding and rollerblading on the sidewalks.
“This is something we hope to expand,” said Miller. “We hope to have mock trials in both the Tyrone and Bellwood-Antis school districts in the next year.”

By Rick