Students Get Up-Close Look at Judicial System
in “Schools in the Courts” Program

(ANNAPOLIS, MD— November 2, 2005) More than 100 area students will get a chance for an up-close view of the state’s justice system in action on Wednesday, November 9, in Anne Arundel District Court as part of the ninth “Schools in the Courts” program.

These Anne Arundel County high school juniors and seniors will sit in on live, actual criminal cases heard before District Court Judge Vincent A. Mulieri as part of the three-hour program, designed to educate students about the legal system while warning them about the consequences of making the wrong choices – namely drinking and driving, drug use, and other crimes.

“We don’t do anything different when the students are there than we do on any other day in the courtroom,” Judge Mulieri said. “Each defendant is sentenced based on the facts and the students see the consequences of their actions, including getting handcuffed and sent to jail in the appropriate cases. The courtroom gets real quiet when that happens.”

After watching live, unscripted criminal cases, the students will hear from Leslie Thomas, of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and they will have the opportunity to ask questions of District Court Chief Judge Ben C. Clyburn. They will also learn about the requirements of probation and the financial burden of being convicted of drunk driving from Don Kumer of the Department of Parole and Probation. Additionally, at least two people will share their first-person accounts of drinking and driving with the students.

The Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) Board of Education will tape the speakers during the program. The program will be aired on Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Television Channel 96 on both the Comcast and Millennium cable systems. Anne Arundel County residents with cable access will be able to view the program from their homes. Broadcast times will be posted on the AACPS Web site: www.aacps.org.

The November 9 program begins at 9 a.m. and ends around noon. Members of the media are encouraged to attend. Please contact the Court Information Office at 410-260-1488 in advance if you want to attend or have questions about when and where cameras will be permitted.

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