By Caroline Harris
A primary function of the Judge Frank Johnson Institute is to host groups eager to visit the courthouse. Groups vary from business people to tourists, from students to civic engagement organizations. The focus of the visits range from historical presentations to viewing court proceedings.
On September 19, twenty-eight students from the newly renamed Johnson-Abernathy-Graetz (J.A.G.) High School in Montgomery attended closing arguments at the Frank Johnson Courthouse of a compelling case overseen by Judge Austin Huffaker, Jr. Students observed both prosecution and defense present closing arguments to a jury. Each student was attentive as they surveyed the compelling presentations from both sides.
After closing arguments, Magistrate Judge Jerusha Adams spoke to the students and addressed their questions. She concluded by wishing the teams good luck in their upcoming Youth Judicial competition.
Their visit concluded with Thomas Rains, executive director of the Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute, giving a brief history of Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Many students were familiar with Judge Johnson, given that the ‘Johnson’ of their school name is in honor of him. Their knowledge and admiration for Judge Johnson was obvious, especially considering the students’ extra curricular activity through their school.
These students are involved in the YMCA’s Youth in Government program, a robust extracurricular opportunity for many high school students across the country, especially Alabama. Youth Judicial is a component that gives students the opportunity to participate in a mock trial as courtroom advocates and judges. Dr. Doug Velardo, a teacher and one of the academic sponsors who chaperoned the trip, reported that his students continued to discuss the closing arguments through the day.
Based on the swift feedback from Dr. Velardo, his student advocates are primed for competition. Dr. Velardo reported his students were not debating the innocence or the guilt of the defendant, but rather the strength of the arguments presented by both the prosecution and the defense.
All in all, it was an impactful experience for everyone–the Johnson Institute staff included. We would like to thank all who were involved in the preparation of the visit. It was truly a team effort to provide such an enriching experience.