ANNAPOLIS (April 7, 2003) – Two groups of students at an Anne Arundel County high school were asked whether they agreed or disagreed with this statement: I think it is important to think about the consequences of a decision before I make the decision.

Thirty percent of one group and 39 percent of the other strongly agreed.  But after a morning watching trials in District Court Judge Vincent A. Mulieri’s courtroom in the fall of 2001, the numbers shifted.  Fifty-seven and 76 percent, respectively, strongly agreed with the statement.

Other groups of students have reacted differently, but most left the “Schools in the Courts” program with a greater appreciation of the risks and consequences of drinking and driving.

 Again on April 9, 2003, approximately 125 students from county high schools will be in Judge Mulieri’s courtroom to witness real-life trials of accused drunk drivers and then learn from experts about consequences of drunk driving.

 When the trials are over, Judge Mulieri, District Court Chief Judge James N. Vaughan, Harold Rohrbach, head of Maryland’s drunk driving monitoring program, public defenders, a juvenile court master and a representative of Mothers Against Drunk Driving will address the students.

 During the second half of the program, the students will break up into smaller groups to discuss underage drinking and driving under the influence of alcohol.

Judge Mulieri has held four “Schools in Courts” sessions since creating the program three years ago.  It is based on the nationally recognized Critical Life Choices™ program, in which a school auditorium is turned into a courtroom.

The court session begins at 9 a.m.  For assistance in covering the “Schools in the Courts” program (including getting cameras into the courthouse) and interviewing participants, contact Jeff Welsh at the Court Information Office at 410 260 1486.