Close to 50 county high school students raised their right hands Monday to be sworn in as members of Caldwell County Teen Court.
The students are the second CCHS group to take the teen court oath. The first group was sworn in in December 2007.
Teen court provides first-time juvenile offenders pleading guilty or found guilty in district court to have their punishment decided by a jury of their peers — other high school students.
Students also serve as prosecution and defense attorneys, arguing the severity of the penalty the jury will hand down.
“Hopefully, we’ll be doing some real cases very soon,” said local attorney and teen court coordinator Jarrod Jackson.
The court has already received its first referral from district court. Both district judges, Jill Clark and James Redd III, are supporting the court, Jackson noted.
Clark allowed teen court members to observe a round of district court proceedings during their training, then took questions from the group.
Both she and Redd were on hand Monday; Redd swore the group into office.
About 25 of this year’s 49 teen court members are returning from the previous group.
“This is just an awesome group of students,” said Billy Stover, teen court coordinator for the Kentucky Administrative Office of the Courts.
“To see this turnout — you all are doing something right.”
Only 32 of Kentucky’s 120 counties have active teen court programs. Lyon County’s teen court, established in February 2007, is the nearest to Caldwell County.
Stover credited Jackson and the district judges as the three reasons for the local program’s success.
A mock trial presented to the audience of parents and supporters in the courthouse’s circuit courtroom drew laughs from the crowd and participants, but Stover reminded the group that their real duties would be serious.
“Starting tonight, we mean business,” he said. “You all are really going to make a difference in someone’s life.”
Actual teen court proceedings will remain confidential, with no spectators allowed in the courtroom.
Participants also took an oath of confidentiality after being sworn in Monday.
This year’s teen court members include:
Shelby Adams, Kelsi Austin, Kaylyn Berton, John Paul Boitnott, Caleb Brown, Lindsey Byrd, Tori Cornish, Josh Cook, MiKalla Cotton, Jessica Crossett, Brittany Dearing;
Kara Dunbar, Jonathan Edwards, Aaron Getz, T.J. Gilkey, Taylor Gilkey, Cody Grinnell, Haley Harrington, Mason Henry, Cody Hooks, Mary Mac Joiner, Sarah Keel;
Andrew Landreth, Aaron Laurent, Renee Laurent, Corey McEnaney, Shelby Meredith, Marion Murray, Chaney Musgove, Olivia Newby, Kaylin Oldham, Devin Oliver;
Will Oliver, Mara Orange, Akeisha Peek, Savannah Pepper, Thomas Riley, Haley Stewardson, Jerrod Strait, Ann Kathryn Talley, Emma Talley, Rebecca Thomas, Shelley Traylor, Sophie Van Hooser, Tanner Vivrette, Maggie Wetzel, Carlyn Williams, Kristen Wright and Kota Young.
