On Wednesday, September 16 and Thursday, September 17, more than 100 students from four St. Lucie County high schools took part in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit’s annual Constitution Day program, stepping into the roles of attorneys and jurors for a mock trial based on the landmark case Elonis v. United States.
Chief Judge Schwab and Judge Sweet presided over courtrooms on Wednesday, hosting students from Fort Pierce Westwood and Fort Pierce Central High Schools. Judge Mish and Judge Heisey continued the program on Thursday, presiding over courtrooms for students from Treasure Coast High School and Centennial High School. Across both days, volunteer attorneys from the local bar served as coaches, helping students prepare their arguments and understand the roles of courtroom personnel.
The two days of programming relied on support from across the courthouse community. The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office and the Circuit’s court administration staff kept things running smoothly for our student visitors, the Clerk of Court’s office hosted students in the jury assembly room and welcomed them with a special visit, and representatives from the St. Lucie County School District helped coordinate student participation. The Law Library capped off both mornings with a pizza lunch and presentation for the students.
The program is part of the Circuit’s ongoing commitment to civic education, giving students a firsthand look at how the justice system works and the constitutional principles that shape it.
