(ANNAPOLIS, Md. – March 31, 2014) Almost 150 county teens will appear together in court Thursday, April 10. But instead of coming with their attorneys, the high school students will have their teachers by their sides as they learn firsthand about the consequences of making bad decisions. It’s all part of the Anne Arundel County District Court’s Schools in the Court program. The media is invited to attend.

After being welcomed by the head of Maryland’s judicial branch, Court of Appeals Chief Judge Mary Ellen Barbera, the students will watch actual criminal cases, learn about the legal and financial consequences of being charged with offenses such as drunk driving, and meet with a representative from Maryland’s Shock Trauma Center. The students will also get a chance to meet members of the Maryland State Police K-9 squad

“Students will see defendants who are not much older than the students themselves,” said Judge Shaem Spencer, who leads the program. “We want them to get an understanding of how the court system works, but we especially want them to understand how making wrong choices about things such as speeding, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, drug use and other crimes can deeply and adversely impact their lives.”

Students from Arundel, Chesapeake, and Phoenix high schools and the Harbour School will take part in the April 10 program. The Anne Arundel County District Court holds the Schools in the Court twice each school year.

Student transportation for the event is provided by a grant from the Anne Arundel County Partnership for Children, Youth and Families.

# # #