Escambia high school students return verdicts
Area high school seniors sworn in as jurors.
Last Thursday, Flomaton High School, Atmore Christian School, Escambia Academy, Escambia County High School and Homeschooled Kids & Company seniors attended this year's Law Day at the Escambia County (Ala.) Courthouse in Brewton and got to hear the guest speaker, Terri Lovell, executive director of the Alabama State Bar.
Selected seniors from each class got to serve as sworn-in jurors and decide in the case of Tanner Weaver. Weaver had been arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia. Students returned a verdict of not guilty on both charges. Students were selected by their school's teachers to serve as jurors.
Then last Friday, T.R. Miller High School and W.S. Neal High School seniors attended and heard guest speaker Stephen Eschner.
The jurors heard the case of Jacob Ahearn, who had been pursued by an Alabama state trooper and arrested and charged with attempt to elude law enforcement, reckless driving and reckless endangerment. Ahearn was found guilty for attempting to elude and reckless driving, but not guilty for the reckless endangerment charge.
Each day, the hearings involved real defendants, real prosecuting attorneys, real defending attorneys and real witnesses. Whatever verdict each jury decided was upheld.
Students got to be a part of the legal system from the inside of a courthouse, and the 18-year-old seniors were extended a chance to register as a voter.
