By Mike Sarzo

Sentinel Staff Writer

For some people, seeing teenagers inside the U.S. Courthouse in Greenbelt usually means trouble. Those people may think of a student slapping a teacher, assaulting someone at a party or worse.

However, for students representing several Prince George's County high schools, their courthouse visit May 1 was not because any of them were in legal trouble. It was part of the second annual Prince George's County State's Attorney's Law Day.

According to Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn F. Ivey, the day was about providing an opportunity for the students to get insight into various aspects of the law. He also was quick to dispel myths of legal shows on TV such as CSI as an accurate portrayal of the events in a courtroom.

"CSI makes me crazy," Ivey said, "because it's like Cinderella."

The event included several discussions about different aspects of the law, the skills needed to be a lawyer, and students' rights to the need for an education. It was highlighted by a so-called "moot court," which provided students first hand experience with presenting a case, calling witnesses and making arguments.

The scenarios listed above were all mentioned at various stages, with Assistant State's Attorney Joseph Wright and Roger Thomas, Prince George's County Public Schools general counsel discussing legal matters related to teenagers in school.

Wright emphatically told the students in the audience the consequence if they slapped their teacher.

"If you touch a teacher, you are toast," he said. Thomas explained several infractions that required principals to push for expulsion from school. Following Thomas's explanation, Wright said of the most serious charges, "you're going to jail. Do not pass 'Go,' do not collect $200."

Some of the students who gathered at the Law Day may have expected it to be a day where lawyers, judges and public officials lectured about staying in school or staying out of legal trouble. However, Cashmere Ellis, a senior at Suitland High School, said the event was more than what she expected.

"I thought they were going to sit there and talk to us," she said. "I like the fact that they interacted with us." She said that even though many of her friends at school weren't aspiring attorneys, she would try to take something back to them.

"Think about what you're doing. Be more wise about the decisions you make," she said.

It wasn't just the participating adults interacting with the students, however. One discussion was punctuated by a staged verbal altercation between two students that quickly involved a third. However, after the "argument" finished, leaders from Teens Against Assault, Violence and Abuse made their point: No one said anything or made an effort to stop the fight from happening.

William R. "Billy" Martin, a partner with Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP who was the defense attorney in the Michael Vick case, was the keynote speaker. He talked about representing clients including Vick and actor Wesley Snipes, who was convicted April 24 on three misdemeanor charges of willful failure to file federal tax returns.

"It breaks my heart," Martin said. "I see Michael Vick and clients like Michael behind bars." However, even though that experience of representing famous clients who end up in prison is difficult for Martin, he said, "I still love the work that I do."

He told the students one of the things he learned from law school.

"One thing law school teaches me is to keep your confidence," he said.

Eventually, the students gathered in a courtroom with Prince George's County District Court Judge Krystal Alves presiding over the "moot court" case, in which one student accused the other of assaulting her at the Laurel Greene Turtle.

The proceedings included a prosecution witness who emphatically pointed at the defendant Libby Lawson, a freshman from Central High School, and said Lawson stomped on the foot of the plaintiff.

LaToya Hansford, a sophomore from Central High School in Capitol Heights, said the program was an accurate reflection of what the legal profession was about.

"It really showed us what we really have to go through. It got me more focused on my life dreams.

The students weren't the only ones who praised the program. Wanda Wright, a business and personal law teacher at Suitland High School, said she was pleased with the program as she and the students left the courtroom.

"I'm very excited about it for my students," she said. "If this is only the second [Law Day], I can't wait for the third."

Contact Mike Sarzo at

editor-pg@thesentinel.com or

pgsentinelmike@yahoo.com

Photo by Mike Sarzo