MEDINA COUNTY JUVENILE AND PROBATE COURT
NEWSLETTER
JUDGE KEVIN W. DUNN MAY 2015
PROBATE, JUVENILE COURT HOSTS FIRST
MEDINA CO. MIDDLE SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL
that
anytime
Eight teams of
they speak in
students, grades
public, even if
sixth
through
they think they
eighth,
from
are
talking
Medina,
Black
slowly
and
R i v e r ,
loudly, talk even
Wadsworth and
slower
and
W e l l i n g t o n
participated
in
louder.
the
first ever
After
both
Medina County
rounds of the
Middle
School
h e a r i n g
Mock
Trial
concluded,
the
Showcase
May
students went to
21, hosted by
the
County
The Medina middle school Mock Trial team presents
the
Medina
Administration
their closing statement May 21, 2015.
County Probate
building for a
and
Juvenile
presentation
Court.
from
Chief
Magistrate Lewis about the history of
The students have been preparing for
nearly two and a half weeks to present
juvenile law.
their cases as prosecution and defense in
Magistrate
Lewis
explained
the
the case State of Mississippi v. T.J. Avery.
importance of the Constitution and Bill of
Rights, restorative justice and how the
“There is a huge mock trial presence
landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision In
available to high school students, but not
Re Gault changed the course of due
at much for middle school,” said Medina
County Schools’ Education Service Center
process for juveniles in the United States.
Coordinator Janice Kollar, who organized
The
students
listened
attentively,
the event. “I feel that it’s so important for
asking questions and already exclaiming
all students to understand the judicial
that they hope to return and participate
system and know their rights.”
in the mock trial showcase next year.
As the students presented both sides of
“I am so impressed by the support from
the case before the Juvenile and Probate
Judge
Dunn,
(Court
Administrator)
Court magistrates, who oversaw each trial
Sharon Danko and the Magistrates,”
in their perspective courtrooms, Kollar
Kollar said. “The Court has been on board
said they are learning about more than
with us one hundred percent from the
just legal aspects.
beginning and I’m really grateful for this
“A mock trial encourages the students
partnership.”
to develop better speaking skills, critical
thinking skills and problem solving
skills,” she said. “These are necessary
manners that will help mold them for
whatever future career they choose.”
Chief Magistrate Lewis addressed the
students from Medina and Wellington in
her courtroom after their first trial round
concluded.
“You all did an excellent job and I’m
amazed at how well prepared you were,”
she said.
She offered the students a few tips
before their second trial began, such as
encouraging them not to read strictly from
notes when presenting their information
Chief Magistrate Susana Lewis conducts
and to listen closely to help draft any
cross examination or re-direct questions.
oath with a witness in the middle school
Magistrate Lewis also told the students
mock trial exercise.
Kristyn Cooke, Court News Writer and Editor
Roll of Thunder,
Hear My Cry
By Mildred D. Taylor
M e d i n a
C o u n t y
S c h o o l s ’
Educational
Service Center
Coordinator
Janice Kollar
said the Ohio
Center for Law
- R e l a t e d
Education
offers
Mock
Trial cases based on popular
literature, many of which
students in Medina County
Middle Schools are already
reading as part of their
classroom curriculum. For this
mock trial exercise, State of
Mississippi v. T.J. Avery, the
students based their case off of
Mildred D. Taylor’s 1976 novel
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.
In this case, T.J., a 14-yearold boy, befriends two boys
who treat him nicely but laugh
behind his back. These boys,
Melvin and R.W. Simms, take
advantage of T.J., using him to
help break into a local store to
steal a pistol, resulting in the
death of the store owner.
The middle school students
in this year’s mock trial must
argue the defense and
prosecution of T.J., whether he
is to be held accountable for
alleged charge of murder and
the burglary. MEDINA COUNTY JUVENILE COURT
MEDINA COUNTY PROBATE COURT
Phone: 725-9709 Fax: 725-9173
Phone: 725-9703 Fax: 725-9119
www.MedinaJuvenile.org
www.MedinaProbate.org
MEDINA COUNTY JUVENILE AND PROBATE COURT
NEWSLETTER
JUDGE KEVIN W. DUNN MAY 2015
HIGHLAND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WARNED
NOT TO DRINK AND DRIVE THROUGH MOCK TRIAL
After the mock trial, Sergeant
Schmoll of the Medina County
She riff’s
O ffice
ad dre sse d
the
students.
Highland High School juniors and
seniors were given the opportunity
to view a mock trial presentation
May 8, 2015 on the dangers of
drinking
and
driving
as
they
prepare for prom festivities.
In this trial skit, presided by
Chief Magistrate Susana Lewis,
Abbey, a Highland High School
student and member of the thespian
club, played the role of the teen
driver. Abbey choses to drink before
heading to the school’s after prom
with three of her friends. As a
result, she loses control of her
vehicle and hits a tree causing the
passenger in her vehicle her life. In
the mock trial, Abbey is being
charged with Aggravated Vehicular
Homicide, two counts of Aggravated
Vehicular Assault and one count of
underage consumption.
“I have this awful feeling, like a
panic attack that won’t end,” Abbey
exclaimed to the crowd during the
performance,
urging
her
fellow
students not to make any decisions
they will regret.
“I know this class of 2015 will
accomplish incredible things,” he
said. “Please don’t jeopardize that.
You can still have the time of your
life
and
maintain
your
responsibility.”
Sgt. Schmoll urged the students
to keep in mind that it’s not just
drinking and driving that is a poor
choice, but that texting and driving
can
be
just
as
deadly
of
a
distraction.
“Shut the phone off when you turn
the car on,” he said. “It can wait.”
Magistrate
Lewis
echoed
the
message of the performance and Sgt.
Schmoll.
Highland
High
School
Thespian
Club member Abbey, playing the
role of the drunk driver in the mock
trial skit, is escorted in a pink
female MCJDC uniform to the stage
by Sgt. Schmoll of the Medina
County Sheriff’s Office.
“So many times, I see regret in my
courtroom and students like you
hoping for a do-over,” she said. “But
you can’t have a do-over in a
situation like this. So before you
make a poor decision, ask yourself,
‘is it really worth it?’”
MEDINA COUNTY JDC OFFICER EARNS PROMOTION
Jason Gordon was recently promoted to
the rank of Corporal at the Medina
County Juvenile Detention Center.
Gordon, who first began working at the
detention facility in 2010, previously
earned the rank of corporal but left
briefly in 2013 to work for his family
business in Hawaii. When he received
news that a family member was sick, he
decided it would be best to return home.
“When I told (the Medina County
Juvenile
Detention
Center
Superintendent)
Ron
Stollar
and
(Assistant Superintendent) Rick Reuss
that I was leaving, they told me that if I
ever came back to Ohio, that I would
have a job here,” Gordon said. “I was very
grateful for that.”
Gordon had to take a written exam on
the policies & procedures of the facility
as well as go through an interview
process before earning rank of corporal
again.
Gordon said he believes that both his
experience and ability to be a team player
among his coworkers helped him earn a
spot as corporal again.
“He is a quick learner and has
work ethic,” said Superintendent
“Sadly, he is a Cleveland Browns
other than that, he is a good guy
asset to our facility.”
a solid
Stollar.
fan but
and an