Students from both Loveland and Swanson Elementary schools participated in a mock trial at the Federal Courthouse on March 30th as part of celebrating Law Day. With the help of actors from the Rose Theater and Chief Judge Robert F. Rossiter, Jr., these students were able to experience what it’s like to be a part of the legal system by performing “The People v. Jack and the Beanstock”, a play created by retired Judge Thomas Eveland of Lansing, MI.

Chief Judge Rossiter, who was the acting judge for the children’s performance,  spoke of how he was approached by Deputy Douglas County Attorney Ann Miller, who was the organizer for this event. “She asked if I would be interested in being the presiding judge for the Law Day mock trial this year, ‘The People v. Jack Beanstalk.’ Ann shrewdly reminded me that the Honorable Lyle E. Strom had presided over this trial for many years. Given that history (and especially given the fact that she mentioned Judge Strom), I had no choice but to say yes – and actually did so gladly.” Lyle Strom is a currently inactive Senior United States district judge in Nebraska, who has been serving the state since his appointment in 1985 by President Reagan.

Judge Rossiter said he was “excited about the grade school children being able to see a ‘trial’ and holding that trial here in the Federal Courthouse.” He said he was excited about doing this event again next year, and feels it’s “a great opportunity to teach and talk about our court system and frankly to show off our beautiful federal courthouse.”

When asked about his thoughts on getting more young people involved in law professions, the Judge had this to say: “I view programs like this as a very small part of the civics education that was so much a part of my younger school days but has now taken a bit of a backseat to other course work. Certainly, that other course work is important and necessary, but knowing how our government works, what its branches are, and in this case, why the judicial branch is different is essential to our constitutional federal republic and maintaining the rule of law.”

It is important to get young people interested in legal professions, as they are the future of our country and will be the ones making changes in the future, and by having them experience legal matters like this in a fun and friendly environment, it can get them fascinated with a career as a lawyer and lead them to one day being members of the Nebraska Bar Association.