Farrington High School provided the halls of justice.
Supreme Court judges held a hearing there to give students a better understanding of the legal system.
This is a first for the state judicial system. An appeals court hearing was held at a high school with attorneys arguing their case in front of the Supreme Court justices. The case is State versus Cabagbag. It was a crime involving the theft of equipment at a construction site. Students from Farrington and Mililani High Schools were invited to watch and ask questions after the hearing.
"We wanted to reach out to this new generation and give them an opportunity to see the judicial process in action, to make it immediate and real for them,” said Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Recktenwald.
Just how much of an appeals court process are the students willing to grasp? Well, as part of the Law and Justice Academy Program of their schools, the students were well prepared. They've done their research by holding mock trials of their own, with help from students at William S. Richardson School of Law. So the teenagers came out inspired.
"It was a great opportunity to see the Supreme Court justices asking questions and it really got my brain going,” said student Rona Gallardo.
"I think it sparked an interest for me to enter a judicial career, so I'm glad we got this opportunity,” said student Carson Turner.
It's all part of a new program called Courts in the Community, to educate the general public about the judiciary's role in government. And what better way than to see the real thing in action and share it with the next generation?
"I think the public understanding should not only be limited to adults per se but to also us students which will be the future of the state,” said student Von Ulsa.
The plan is to bring more hearings to other schools, including the neighbor islands.
