And a prosecution team of their peers. And a defense team of their peers. And bailiffs and clerks of their peers.

It also provides those peers a glimpse at some possible career paths.

On Monday, students in the Warren County Career Center protective services program participated in Warren County Youth Court.

They played all the courtroom roles with the exceptions of defendant and judge. The judge position was reserved for an adult. The defendants were youth who have been adjudicated to the program by a Magisterial District Judge.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Defense attorney Tristian McKee delivers closing remarks during Youth Court on Monday in the Jackson Courtroom at Warren County Courthouse. Warren County Career Center Protective Services students (from left) defense attorneys McKee and Jayce Turner, jurors Mary Muzzy, Zoe Light, Allison Cressley, Jarod Peterson, and Kenzie Dunn, and (not pictured) jurors Haylee Irvin, Zeke Nudd, Robert Crane, Tegan Yucha, Jared Spencer, Seth Enderby, and Wyatt Lindsey, prosecuting attorneys Mason Passinger and Kiley Youngberg, defense attorney Michael Lester, clerk Chloie Sliter, defendant Haiden Ristau, and bailiffs Josiah Hepler, Jakobe Anthony, Zaylee Cressley, and Alex Huffman participated in the Youth Court proceedings. Ristau was a defendant for the open portion of the proceeding only. Youth Court hearings involving real cases are not open to the public.

The offenders were subject to the decisions made by the jury.

As in juvenile cases that move through the traditional juvenile system, Youth Court is not open. The press, and others not directly involved with the cases, is not invited. No details specific to Monday’s cases were revealed to the media.

The students were not officially in charge of determining the guilt or innocence of their peers. They acted that out as part of the experience, but the offenders had already been determined guilty of summary offenses at the magisterial court system.

The Youth Court is in charge of sentencing. The sentences are binding… if the offender would like to receive the benefit of going to Youth Court.

Typically, a first-time juvenile offender found guilty of committing summary offenses has to pay courts costs and a fine.

Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry Defense attorney Tristian McKee delivers closing remarks as defendant Haiden Ristau listens from the witness stand during Youth Court on Monday in the Jackson Courtroom at Warren County Courthouse. Warren County Career Center Protective Services students (from left) defense attorneys McKee and Jayce Turner, jurors Mary Muzzy, Allison Cressley, Zoe Light, Kenzie Dunn, Jarod Peterson, Haylee Irvin, and Zeke Nudd, and Ristau, and (not pictured) prosecuting attorneys Mason Passinger and Kiley Youngberg, defense attorney Michael Lester, jurors Robert Crane, Tegan Yucha, Jared Spencer, Seth Enderby, and Wyatt Lindsey, clerk Chloie Sliter, and bailiffs Josiah Hepler, Jakobe Anthony, Zaylee Cressley, and Alex Huffman participated in the Youth Court proceedings. Ristau was a defendant for the open portion of the proceeding only. Youth Court hearings involving real cases are not open to the public.

Those who are eligible and opt for Youth Court, are generally sentenced to something more personal, according to Warren County Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Mike Grubbs. That could include things like community service, essays, and apology letters.

Deputy Chief Brenda Beers said those kinds of penalties often leave more of an impression on the youth than having a parent write a check to pay a fine.

Juvenile offenders who go through Youth Court instead of the tradition juvenile system have 90 days to satisfy their sentences, according to Grubbs. “Our department supervises that juvenile for that 90 days.”

If the young person satisfies the requirements, the offense is removed from their permanent record.

There are benefits for the protective services students.

“It gets us involved in the process of the court system,” instructor Mike Noe said.

Students rotate through the roles they play in the court.

Some are on the prosecution team. Some on the defense team.

There is a full jury of 12 students, including a foreperson. If there are more students than are needed for jury, defense, prosecution, and clerk, the remainder become bailiffs and provide court security.

Prior to the day of Youth Court, every student participates in research and preparation, Noe said.

The prosecutors are expected to do their best to prove that the offender was indeed guilty.

The defense represents their client during the trial, but also advises them of the sentencing guidelines for the offenses of which they are accused.

While they prepare in advance, circumstances can change during the proceeding, depending on what the other side does and what the defendant says. “They’re allowed to be fluid,” Noe said.

Their performance in playing their courtroom roles, presenting information, weighing information, assigning appropriate sentences, and thinking on their feet goes into their grades for the day, Noe said.

“This is a learning experience for all of us,” Wyatt Lindsey said. “It gives us a big picture of what the law enforcement side could look like.”

Lindsey was part of the jury for one of Monday’s cases. “It shows us more about how the law works and what they outcome could be.”

“It helps get high schoolers used to dealing with the legal system, especially for those aspiring to have a career in the legal system,” Jarod Peterson said.

“It’s a good experience for later on in life,” Haylee Irvin said. “There’s a possibility that at least one person that’s here could go into a work environment like this.”

The students take their roles seriously.

“It’s an interesting way to serve justice before the age of 18,” Jayce Turner said.

“It’s a great responsibility,” Alex Huffman said. And, “it’s a great opportunity that’s offered to students who come into the protective services program to get a look inside the judicial system.”

Not every student in the program is looking at a career in law enforcement. Allison Cressley prefers those times when she is the prosecutor. “I like proving my points,” she said. “I want to be a medical lawyer.”

The statewide program was brought to the county by then-President Judge Paul Millen in 2005, Grubbs said, and Warren County’s remains one of the more active programs.

Noe said his class has held Youth Court twice so far this school year, with at least three cases each time.