ROCK SPRINGS – You can be the judge for mock court cases during a free two-part event at Western Wyoming Community College.
Local judges and attorneys will present mock cases and invite audience recommendations on verdicts and sentencings during the WWCC event “You Be The Judge.” The event is part of a partnership between WWCC, the Wyoming Supreme Court, the District and Circuit Court Judges of the Third Judicial District, and the Sweetwater County Bar, according to a release from WWCC.
The takes place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 4, in Room 1302, and on Thursday, Feb. 11, in Room 3650 A and B, at the Rock Springs campus. In addition to presenting the cases, judges and attorneys will explain how the rules of evidence, due process, state laws, and other factors necessarily influence judicial decisions and the outcomes of cases.
Participating in the sessions are Wyoming Supreme Court Justices Michael Davis, who is scheduled to attend on Feb. 4, and Catherine M. Fox, who is scheduled to attend on Feb. 11. District Court Judges Nena James and Richard Lavery, and Circuit Court Judges John Prokos and Craig Jones, will also participate, as will attorneys from the Sweetwater County Attorney’s Office and Public Defender’s Office and local attorneys in private practice. None will speak about active cases, but the mock cases that are presented will be fictional composites of elements from a variety of real-life civil and criminal scenarios.
On Thursday, Feb. 4, mock cases will include a juvenile criminal case, presented by Judge James, and a sentencing case related to a hoax terrorist threat, presented by Judge Jones. On Thursday, Feb. 11, cases will include a small-claims medical-malpractice case brought by unhappy pet owners against a veterinarian, presented by Judge Prokos, and an employment law case involving a high school activities director, presented by Judge Lavery. Both sessions will last until approximately 9 p.m.
For more information on the fact patterns of each mock case, go to westernwyoming.edu.
These sessions are intended to be interactive and educational, and they will offer insight into how judges consider their decisions and how their thought processes work with regard to legal issues.
Each session is a stand-alone event and citizens are encouraged to participate on both evenings, if possible. Western first hosted this community-education event in February 2015.
“You Be The Judge” programs also will be presented during closed daytime sessions for high school students at Green River High School on Feb. 2 and 9, and at Rock Springs High School on Feb. 3 and 10. The students will consider the same cases and issues as participants in the evening college sessions.
For more information, contact Christopher Sheid, Marketing and Communication Coordinator for Western Wyoming Community College, at [email protected] or at (307) 382-1661.