By Evan Eakins
Although every student and teacher filled the Performing Arts Center Friday afternoon, it was so quiet that the infamous pin could have been heard dropping.
Attention was glued to the stage to watch as Judge Skocelas from Allegan County’s 57th District Court sentenced offenders in five different cases to show how the system of court works, and possibly to serve as a warning for those observing.
These actual cases consisted of fraud, possession, domestic violence, operating a vehicle under the influence, and DUI as a minor. As all four grades of the high school intently watched the proceedings, Principal Jeremy Wright was hoping that all the lessons being illustrated went in one ear and stayed there.
“Judge Skocelas does this in hopes to keep students from going to jail or making any of the dumb decisions like these people did after high school, that’s why I brought him in,” Wright said.
It’s not a mock trial; for the day his courtroom is actually moved to the high school, complete with his black robe, defense and prosecuting attorneys, and a Plainwell Public Safety officer serving as bailiff. It did have an impact on some students.
“Yeah, that definitely got to me somehow, I think it was just the thought of being in that position was embarrassing to me,” said Michael Dekama ‘17.
“It definitely gave me a new perspective on the court system. Seeing those people being sentenced doesn’t make me wanna go to jail, that judge was intimidating,” said Morgan DeHaan ‘17.
Skocelas was once a member on the Plainwell school board and his daughters attended here, but that doesn’t stop him from visiting other schools also.
“I’ve done this kind of thing in every high school in the county, I’ve even done this in Plainwell three times,” said Skocelas
Skocelas may be busy, but he finds this effective to the point of fitting it in his schedule.
“I love doing this, it’s effective, It tells the kids what happens in a courtroom and the procedures to it,” he said.
Those being sentenced receive community service credit for appearing at the temporary court, usually resulting in reduced fines.
The Judge wants to make sure everyone can get the experience.
“I put this on a rotation system, I do it every four years to make sure the new kids can see it,” said Skocelas.