By Alex Lane -

The Amador Superior Court will host a mock trial for Ione Elementary’s seventh graders as part of a participatory program that helps to educate youngsters about law procedure. On October 21st, Judge Susan Harlan will preside over lawyers, a bailiff, stenographers, and court staff proceeding as if it were a real case. The trial will last approximately two hours, with the seventh grade students broken into three ‘juries’. The students will deliberate at the conclusion of the trial, and each jury will announce their verdict. This mock trial follows the success of another performed last May for fifth grade students at Sutter Creek Elementary School. The positive feedback was overwhelming. “I learned a lot about how the judicial system works and I felt like I was in a real trial…The experience was extremely cool,” wrote one student. The story revolves around an incident between a high school boy and his girlfriend, whose face is accidently cut when he pushes her into his car. The young jurors must decide if he is guilty or innocent. Judge Harlan, who is a member of the Domestic Violence Council, has presided over mock trials before and believes they are a great way for students to “experience this very real dilemma.” According to District Attorney todd Reibe, “This event shows our students in a very real way the inner workings of the criminal justice system, informs them on the dynamics of domestic violence at a level they can understand, and presents to them examples of career opportunities available within the criminal justice field.” For more information on the mock trial, contact Alexandra M. Asterlin, Senior Attorney, Amador Superior Court at 257-2653 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..