Youth:

UNLV program acquaints potential young witnesses with courtroom practices, earns ‘Bright Ideas’ award

Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012 | 2 a.m.

The young witnesses called to the stand give the same story every time: Their blue bike is missing, and they saw a man wearing a purple suit take it. That’s the simple part. Here’s where it gets tricky. As the youngsters recount their story, they must understand words like testify, oath, bailiff, trial and defendant — vocabulary common on legal shows but rare on the playground. They are participants of Kids’ Court School, a 10-year-old program at UNLV’s Boyd School of Law that recently earned an award from Harvard University. “It’s really important for kids to have a voice in ...

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Discussion: 3 comments so far…

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By KillerB

Dec. 25, 2012

8:47 a.m.

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This does little more than teach kids what their likely future holds -- as defendants.

My own experience has taught me the courts are like the rest of government -- not to be trusted. Think courts are about truth, justice, Constitutions and the Rule of Law? A visit to the "Just Us" Center downtown begins with stripping you of government's promise to deprive no one of unreasonable search and seizure, overseen mostly by swaggering, burly men wearing badges and guns. And it's all downhill from there.

"Indifference to personal liberty is but the precursor of the State's hostility to it." -- United States v. Penn, 647 F.2d 876 (9th Circuit, 1980), Judge Kennedy dissenting
By vegaslee

Dec. 25, 2012

9:51 a.m.

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KillerB,

I hope you have a Great Christmas and New Year.

You seem to have way to many negative experiences with courts, cities, states, government and life in general. Hopefully things will turn around for you and you will lead a happier life.
By KillerB

Dec. 25, 2012

10:02 a.m.

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"I hope you have a Great Christmas and New Year."

vegaslee -- I detached from xmas long ago. As for the rest, some of us haven't forgotten what it means to be a citizen. I recommend you go sit in a local courtroom for a day. Maybe then you'll understand my post.

Thanx for the thought anyway.

"Life begins on the other side of despair." -- Sartre