Celebrating Over 75 Years of Serving Nevada’s Legal, Business, Government, and Civic Communities
Kids’ Mock Trial Program: Experiential Education for Elementary School Students
Please visit the Kids’ Court website at https://www.washoecounty.gov/rjc/kidscourt/program.php.
McDonald Carano is helping to cover costs for students from Agnes Risley Elementary School, a Title I school serving students in Sparks, to participate in the Reno Kids’ Court program. Hosted by the Reno Justice Court since 1994, the program provides fifth and sixth graders with the opportunity to participate in a mock trial in an actual courtroom where they take on courtroom roles, including judge, lawyers, jurors, court reporters, witnesses, and bailiffs. The program concludes with an “Ask an Inmate” session for students to hear from inmates how their decisions shaped their lives. Kids’ Court is designed to help students learn about civil and criminal aspects of the judicial system and become informed and reflective citizens.
More information about the program is provided below.
Kids’ Court
The Kids’ Court program serves 5th and 6th grade elementary school students throughout Truckee Meadows. Students participate in a mock trial of BB Wolf vs. Curly Pig held in an actual courtroom. The students take over the courtroom and play all roles in a real trial, including judge, lawyers, jurors, court reporters, witnesses, and bailiffs.
Prior to the field trip to the Reno Justice Court, teachers assign roles to students so they can practice. Students also receive a script and parents receive subpoena invitations to attend the trial. Students not playing a specific role serve as the jury and participate in the discussion of a verdict. Role-specific costumes are provided to students. Upon conclusion of the trial and closing arguments, the jury retires to the jury room for deliberations led by Reno Justice Court Staff. Upon reaching a verdict, the students return to the courtroom to announce their verdict (i.e., whether they find in favor of the wolf or the pig).
Upon the students’ initial arrival in the courtroom, Judge Scott Pearson greets the students and engages them in a discussion about the trial. He discusses the importance of each person in the courtroom and their unique roles and contributions. He answers questions about the judicial process and students learn about both the criminal and civil aspects of the American system of justice. Judge Pearson then describes the “Ask an Inmate” portion of the program and encourages students and parents to participate in the Q&A.
Ask an Inmate
The “Ask an Inmate” portion of the program is administered by the Washoe County Sheriff’s Department. Upon completion of the mock trial, costumes are put away and screened inmates from the Washoe County Jail are brought into the courtroom. The Reno Justice Court partners with the Washoe County Sheriff’s Department, Reno Police Department, and Reno Justice Court Bailiffs to lead a discussion with the inmates. Inmates describe the conditions in jail and share their life stories about the choices they made that brought them into the criminal justice system and what they would do differently. The goals of the program are: (1) teach students about the importance of education and making good decisions; (2) review consequences of peer pressure and gang involvement; and (3) review the dangers of drug and alcohol use.
About McDonald Carano
In 2024, McDonald Carano celebrated its 75ᵗʰ Anniversary of serving Nevada’s legal, business, government, and civic communities. More than 60 lawyers and government affairs professionals serve Nevada, national, and international clients from our offices in Reno, Las Vegas, and Carson City. McDonald Carano provides transactional, litigation, regulatory, and government affairs services to startups, corporations, private companies, trade associations, nonprofits, public entities, high-net-worth individuals, and family offices throughout Nevada. We are deeply committed to supporting local communities by volunteering our time, resources, and services, including pro bono legal services, to nonprofit organizations, charitable foundations, and public service entities. We are proud to be your Nevada law firm since 1949.
Media Contact
Mark Buckovich
[email protected]
702.257.4559
You have chosen to send an email to McDonald Carano. The sending or receipt of this email and the information in it does not in itself create an attorney-client relationship. If you are not already a client, you should not provide us with information that you wish to have treated as privileged or confidential without first speaking to one of our lawyers. If you provide information before we confirm that you are a client and that we are willing and able to represent you, we may not be required to treat that information as privileged, confidential, or protected information, and we may be able to represent a party adverse to you.
I have read this and want to send an email.