STU Law Hosts Future Legal Leaders as Part of the
Teen Court Program

June 10, 2009 a young defendant sits in the witness stand of St. Thomas University School of Law’s Moot Courtroom answering a barrage of questions from a highly skilled prosecutor. Charged with vandalism, the defendant claims that he was a victim of peer pressure and bullying, but no one on the prosecution is buying the young man’s excuse, perhaps it is because these “attorneys” are themselves teenagers.

Part of Miami-Dade County’s Teen Court Program, trials (like the one held at STU) allow first-time offenders to be sentenced by a true jury of their peers, while giving students interested legal careers a chance to act as attorneys (on each side of the case) and members of the jury.

The program also provides the young participants with a chance to view firsthand all of the educational and leadership opportunities available to them at St. Thomas University and the School of Law.