Event is scheduled to celebrate Law Day

On Tuesday, May 3, local students will get a first-hand look at Forsyth County’s judicial system. On this day, Chief Judge Jeffrey S. Bagley will host more than 160 fifth graders from Chattahoochee Elementary School for mock trials in the Forsyth County Superior Court.  

The mock trials are scheduled to celebrate Law Day. Law Day, held annually on May 1, is a nationally-recognized day for reflecting upon and promoting public awareness of the foundational nature of law in the United States. This year’s theme “Miranda: More than Words” underscores the importance of the American court system and its role in ensuring access to justice.

The students will stage two fairy tale mock trials, Rumpelstiltskin and the Three Little Pigs. The event begins at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom 501 of the Forsyth County Courthouse in downtown Cumming. The public is invited to attend.

“This activity develops students’ analytical abilities and self-confidence while furthering an understanding of the content, processes and roles of courtroom staff as well as the legal system,” said Court Administrator Robin Rooks. “Mock trials also demonstrate the significance of our constitutional protections and promote trust in the courts.”

Judge Bagley is a Partner in Education to the Chattahoochee Elementary School fifth grade classes. The mock trials are a culmination of Judge Bagley’s year-long tutelage that began with lessons covering a citizen’s Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and the longstanding rule set forth in Miranda v. Arizona.

“I have had the privilege of working with students in our county as a Partner in Education since 1998 and have found it to be a very rewarding experience,” said Bagley.

Law Day is celebrated each year by courts and members of the legal community throughout Georgia, which host similar community and educational events. Each year, Law Day provides the Forsyth County Superior Court with an opportunity to expose the community, especially students, to the important role of the judicial system.