Ohio's top judges held court in Lisbon for high-schoolers

Students watched state Supreme Court justices intently and learned the complexity of law.

By D.A. WILKINSON

VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU

LISBON — The Ohio Supreme Court took some time here to mix justice with education.

The state’s high court heard oral arguments of four cases Wednesday in a Columbiana County Courthouse courtroom. It also became a classroom for youths in the court’s 57th departure from Columbus during the past 22 years.

The outreach program has enabled 32,530 Ohioans — 24,645 of them high school students — to observe the Supreme Court in action without leaving their communities.

Ryan Weikart, an assistant county prosecutor who was a coordinator for the visit, said, “The kids are getting to see something most people never get to see.”

Most people, he said, have never set foot in a courtroom.

But the visit, “brings the judiciary to our hometown,” Weikart added.

The courthouse itself has been renovated in recent years and long-neglected floors were buffed twice before the visit.

Chris Davey, the court’s public information office, acted as a warm-up man for the justices by telling the students what they could and could not ask. That included no questions on the one criminal and three civil cases the top court would hear.

“The deliberation process is confidential,” Davey said.

He pointed out there are 13 major elected officials in the state and seven justices.

Only six came to Columbiana, however. Justice Terrence O’Donnell was ill. All seven have to be present when a case is decided.

Chief Justice Thomas Moyer described the court as, “A peaceful forum in which we decide issues.”

He added the justices had varied backgrounds and philosophies.

Justice Evelyn Lundberg Stratton, the daughter of overseas missionaries, told the students, “We have so many freedoms, but we take them for granted.”

The first group of students heard the only criminal case. A defendant was declared a violent repeat offender. Under the law at the time, a judge was allowed to add additional prison time. The state law was later changed. Another issue was whether the jury or judge should have set the amount of extra prison time.

The prosecution and defense attorneys talked to the students after the hearing. Ben Haren of Lisbon asked if the lawyers thought most students would understand the complex case.

Haren said he would try to get the information from each side into the student newspaper.

Three students, Bo Emmerling, Leah Wilson, and Emily Householder from the Beaver school district, said they found the program interesting.

Bo indicated he wasn’t quite sure what career he will follow, although he is the son of Atty. Fred Emmerling and Judge Melissa Byers-Emmerling of East Liverpool Municipal Court.

He and Leah were interested in the court cases, but Emily said she was interested in the law in terms of teaching and education.

A luncheon in Lisbon followed the court’s hearings.

The justices were to travel to state Route 7 south of New Waterford, where a plaque commemorates one of the first Supreme Court hearings after Ohio became a state in 1803.

wilkinson@vindy.com