The bailiff rises from his chair and his voice bellows through the room – “All Rise”.
The jury stands, as does the defense, the prosecution, and witnesses, as the judge enters the room. All the roles in this setting are played by Kingwood Park High School students.
It is a mock trial being held on a Tuesday afternoon in Scarlett May’s 7th period Court Systems class as the sun beams through a set of large windows above. In year’s past, May, who is in her seventh year of teaching at Kingwood Park High School, would just move tables and chairs around to mimic a courtroom setting.
Now, at the end of her new classroom, sits a mock courtroom with a judge’s bench, jury box, defendant stand and tables for the prosecution and defense attorneys. It is a realistic courtroom.
“Now, it is a lot easier for them to see when we’re practicing the mock trials and they get a better view of what a courtroom would be like,” May, who practiced law for 16 years before becoming a teacher, said. “My other classes now want to take part in some type of mock trial.”
The new KPHS Criminal Justice Courtroom addition was part of CTE Campus Renovations included in Bond 2018.
“Random kids that walk by are excited, At Open House, the parents and people would come by and look at it,” May said. “It’s neat.”
May teaches Principles of Law, Law Enforcement, Criminal Investigation and Court Systems at Kingwood Park High School.
“Hopefully more and more kids will want to take Court Systems,” May said. “It’s my favorite because it is my background. Maybe now more kids will want to take it because we get to use this.”