Enjoyable Field Trip To The Courthouse

Last week our office manager and myself hosted approximately 35 kids from Pineville Elementary School to our parish courthouse, the 9th Judicial Court for the Parish of Rapides. We have been doing these field trips with our local schools for many years. The kids arrived at approximately 9am on their school bus and we met them at the entrance to the courthouse where I introduced myself and gave them a little history of the courthouse and the different types of work that is performed in the building.

We then proceeded to take the elevator to the 4 th floor where we met one of the newly elected Judges, Mary Doggett. Judge Doggett introduced herself and told the kids the various functions and duties of the judge. I also talked to the kids about the duties of the attorneys and what they do in the courtroom. Judge Doggett then picked 14 kids to go sit in the jury box, selected several to be witnesses, bailiffs, court reporters, attorneys, clients and one lucky kid was asked to be the Judge.

We then brought her to the back where she was fitted with a real judicial robe and we had our real bailiff officially open court and everyone rose while the “kid Judge” came to the bench and greeted everyone and we started a little mini trial. The kids seemed to really enjoy the experience of playing the different roles that people do every day in most courtrooms in the country. After the trial was concluded and we answered numerous questions from the kids, we left the courtroom and brought them to the jail that is connected to the courthouse.

The warden then spoke to the kids about the unpleasantries of being locked up in jail and the rights and privileges that are taken away. We try to stress to the kids that jail is real and it really is a place they do not want to ever be in. After the kids left the jail they were taken to CiCis were our firm treated them for as much pizza as they could eat. They were then bused to our office where they got a chance to see our office and sit in our conference room where I visited with them a little more about what lawyers do outside of the courtroom and in their office. The kids finally left around 1:30pm and I believe it is safe to say that not only did the kids enjoy the field trip but so did I as I felt the kids were very well behaved and they were very interested in what was being said throughout the trip.