Mock trial becomes civics lesson for students

FAIR OAKS RANCH — Van Raub Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Rosendo Montoya didn’t have a great day in court Thursday after being found guilty of speeding in a school zone.

No worries, though — the proceedings were part of a mock or “play” trial at Municipal Court intended to teach students of Montoya and fellow Van Raub educator Laura Paulsen about what goes on during a trial.

Students took part in the civics session, donning costumes for their roles as prosecutors, defense attorney, witnesses, court bailiff, police officers and judge.

“At the end of the school year last year, the courts reached out to us and had this idea of doing the mock trials,” Paulsen said. “We thought this would be a great opportunity for the kids to see how the system works, and how it fits into the Texas curriculum.”

Before the “trial” began, a jury of 12 boys and girls was sworn in by bailiff Cristian Ramirez, then listened to arguments on behalf of the state by prosecutor Annaliese Conrad.

Defense attorney Angel Sanchez did his best to persuade the jury that Montoya’s line of sight was obscured — a delivery truck blocked his view of the flashing school-zone signs— when he drove 35 mph in a 20-mph school zone.

Sanchez told the jury his client thought the active school-zone hour had ended.

Ramirez, Conrad and Sanchez are all students.

Sanchez’s argument wasn’t enough to sway the jury, though, with members of the pool later indicating their teacher should have known the 20mph zone is designed to protect children in crosswalks, on sidewalks and in loading-unloading zones.

After closing arguments, the jury left the room to deliberate Montoya’s fate, only to return later and render its verdict: guilty.

Judge Emma Brown, also a student, handed down the punishment: a fine of $200, which sent a murmur through the students observing in the courtroom.

The real Municipal Court judge, Darrel Dullnig, was on hand to oversee the activity and to support “Judge” Brown with his more than 30 years of experience as an attorney, prosecutor and judge Dullnig then asked for a show of hands from the students packing the courtroom: What should be Montoya’s fate, the $200 fine or giving an “A” for the day to every student taking part?

The students’ boisterous response was unanimous, and the A’s ruled the day.