June 29, 2023
In Youth Courts, Teenage Judges Hear Your Case
By Peter Lucas
With volunteers in middle and high school, approximately 1,400 teen courts in the US allow young people to be defended, prosecuted, and sentenced by their peers.
A young person makes an opening statement to the jury in her role as prosecutor during a mock trial demonstrating how the New Bedford Youth Court functions. (John Wilcox / Getty)
One of the cornerstones of the American judicial system is the right of a defendant to a trial by jury. “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State,” reads the Sixth Amendment. But when you imagine what that jury will look like, you don’t expect middle and high schoolers clad in khaki pants and button-down shirts.
But that’s exactly what Mateo Jamie, a 17-year-old from Alaska, saw when he walked into the Anchorage Youth Court.
On the day of his scheduled hearing, two teenage prosecuting attorneys sat at the counsel table, reading through Jamie’s file and preparing their arguments. Three teenage judges walked in, dressed in black robes that—on them—might have looked more like Halloween costumes than traditional judicial attire. Since Jamie had already admitted to the crime, the trial consists of a short sentencing hearing. The youth judges exited the room, and just 10 minutes later, Jamie learned his punishment: a 600-word essay and 25 hours of community service.
