All rise: Lawton Elementary fourth graders get a hands-on look at the law

Students will visit the Ann Arbor Justice Center, talk civics with the mayor, and participate in mock trials in the courtrooms

In a unique educational opportunity, the fourth-grade students at Lawton Elementary are immersing themselves in the world of law and civic engagement. This hands-on experience is the brainchild of Margie Pollard Radabough, the school’s PTO vice president and a deputy city attorney, and her mother, retired Justice Elizabeth Hines.

Radabough has leveraged her connections and her mother’s expertise to create an exceptional learning experience for the students.

Judge Hines has been working on writing a script for a mock trial that will take place at Washtenaw County Courthouse. She recently visited Lawton to collaborate with students on the script, as did Assitant Prosecuting Attorneys Darren Miller and Ashley Londy; Washtenaw County Public Defender Delphia Simpson; Assistant Public Defender Joy Gaines; and Magistrate Tamara Garwood, all of whom are pictured below:

“The students have had the chance to provide input and shape the mock trial,” says fourth grade teacher Julia Gold, who says the students are thrilled to be part of this project. “This will help them gain a deeper understanding of the legal process and the various roles involved.”

In addition to the mock trial, the fourth graders have also received a lesson on implicit biases and the responsibilities of a juror which helps the students develop critical thinking skills and an appreciation for the complexities of the judicial system, Judge Hines explained.

The culmination of this experience will take place on April 30th, when all of Lawton’s fourth-graders will travel downtown to participate in the mock trials in actual courtrooms. They will be guided by the legal professionals who have been working with them throughout the process.

This is a field trip in which the kids learn about the different branches of government, said Judge Hines, noting that instead of simply coming to the school to talk about the different roles in the judicial process, she thought it would be fun to have the kids actually come to court and do a mock trial themselves.

“They’ll see for themselves what the prosecutor does, what the judge does, what the defense attorney does,” she said. “They’ll learn a lot about jury duty, what jurors do, and how important that is. They’ll learn about some laws because we’re basing the mock trial on a real-life scenario. We’re using real jury instructions, of course, greatly abbreviated, but the kids will really learn a lot about the presumption of innocence and the way our system works. So I’m hoping they get a lot out of it but also have a lot of fun.”

Hines said she hopes the experience will leave a lasting impression and inspire the students to become active and engaged citizens in their community.

The students will also have the opportunity to meet with Mayor Christopher Taylor and Missy Stults, the director of the Office of Sustainability and Innovation, which will allow them to engage in a dialogue about their ongoing civics projects, which include topics such as littering, conscientious consumerism, waste reduction, the promotion of green spaces, and conflict resolution.

“We are hoping to get advice on how to advance our projects and get answers to some of our tough questions,” says Gold. “This is a chance for the students to learn directly from our city’s leaders and make a real impact in their community.”

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