Apr. 17, 2023 – The final Courtroom to Classroom program for the 2022-2023 school year has come and gone. About 50 fourth graders from St. Francis Elementary School visited the Cobb Superior Court last Friday. 

During the program, students performed a scripted mock trial to decide whether “Jaime Joyride” was guilty of stealing bicycles from a store. Superior Court Judge Jason D. Marbutt presided over the mock trial session on April 14. While student jurors were deliberating, the judge took questions from the other students about the court system and judicial process. “My background is in teaching, and so I always jump at the opportunity to educate children about the justice system. The mock trials are a great way to do that and let the kids have fun at the same time.” said Judge Marbutt.  

After the mock trial, deputies from the Cobb Sheriff’s Office’s Community Engagement Unit and K-9 Rose with her handler, Angela, from the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office visited the children. The officers showed the students some tools of the trade used to keep the community safe, including bicycle and trike patrol units. Angela discussed Rose’s roles in the DA’s Office and how they help during court proceedings. 

St. Francis Elementary is the last elementary school to visit the Superior Court this school year. The mock trial program is appropriate for fourth- and fifth-grade groups and is offered as courtroom space allows.