Campus Court

For some Los Angeles traffic offenders, Thursday was time to go back to school. Their day in court came at a high school.

As part of a program designed to increase awareness of judicial procedures, the Los Angeles Municipal Court brought the courtroom to the classroom at Dorsey High School in the Crenshaw district.

“The justice system goes far beyond criminal trials,” said Joshua Williams, a 10th-grader and one of about 50 students in the school’s Law and Public Service Magnet program who took part.

For Joshua and his classmates, Thursday was also an opportunity to observe a facet of the field they hope to enter as lawyers, court interpreters and law enforcement officers.

The event helped mark Law Day, an annual nationwide event to promote knowledge of the law, said Marcia Skolnik, director of public affairs for the Los Angeles Municipal Court, which has sponsored “courtroom on campus” events since 1992.

Defendants are informed beforehand of the unusual venue, and if they object, they can opt out, Skolnik said. But most are cooperative.

Court Commissioner Beverly Mosley presided over 11 cases in Dorsey High’s “courtroom,” a converted wood-paneled classroom complete with a jury box and bench where students practice mock trials.

Reactions from some of the defendants depended on the verdicts.

Helping the kids was “not a consolation, not at all,” said a man who was fined $271 for running a red light.

Bree Benton, 25, of West Hollywood received a better outcome and had a better feeling for the unusual proceedings. She was charged with driving an unregistered car, but Mosley dismissed the case after she showed proof of registration.

“It was a wonderful opportunity,” Benton said.

After the real cases were dealt with, students got a chance to simulate a traffic trial under Mosley’s guidance.

With Joshua presiding as judge, other students assumed the roles of defendant, police officer, bailiff and court clerk.

“We want them to experience as many law-related activities as possible,” said Heidi Bowton, the event coordinator and an English teacher. To accommodate all those who wanted to participate, Bowton went further than normal traffic court procedures by adding a jury and even a court artist.

Keith Fulbright, accused of running a stop sign, deftly argued his case.

“Your honor, I couldn’t see the sign,” the 10th-grader said. “It was blocked by the trees, the trees. You understand?”

The jury later found him not guilty.

The impromptu defense was too much for Shantel Peart, a senior playing the police officer. “We had nothing,” she complained.