By Audrey Smith, courtesy of Kent News
If one were to have walked into Dickinson Science building on this morning he or she would have been greeted by several security officers and a metal detector, not the normal A block crowd of sleepy-headed students. The Kent community had the unique opportunity to host the hearing for two state appellate court cases; the judicial branch holds court cases in Connecticut high schools as part of an educational initiative aimed at familiarizing students with the judicial process and the events of judicial procedure.
The hearings were held in the presence of Mr. Minneman and Mr. Booth’s Advanced Placement Government classes and Mrs. Herr’s Constitutional Law class, as well as a few students from Housatonic Valley Regional High School. Three judges were present, including Judge Alexandra DiPentima, Kent alumna and daughter of former Kent teacher, O.B. Davis. Also present were the lawyers of the defendants and of the State, as well as several other lawyers who came to watch and brief the students on the two cases.
Both were criminal cases being argued under appellate jurisdiction. Following each session, the judges deliberated while the lawyers answered questions from the audience.
For students of United States Government and Constitutional Law, this was an enriching occasion that brought to life the proceedings of our Department of Justice. Fortunately Kent was able to host the appellate court as budget constraints will likely suspend such educational outreach programs. The Kent community was lucky enough to play host for what proved to be a very fascinating and certainly unique examination of the judicial process. Judge Alexandria DiPentima comments, “We have received enthusiastic reviews for these sessions, in large part because of the help we receive from volunteer lawyers who help prepare the students prior to argument and who guide the question and answer period… I hope very much the program will resume in the near future.”
Although the particular cases have yet to be decided the Kent community has, in judicial argot, certainly been shown the full extent of the law.
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