The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Brooke K. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Observe - Local Judicial Trial
On Thursday, March 19th, we headed to the 54th District court. As we squeezed onto the pews in the back of the judicial room, we shed our coats and started to listen while the crime was unfolded. The witness, a middle-aged man with little hair on the top of his head, stuttered and stammered and second-guessed his story of a thief breaking into his house in the middle of the night.
For the majority of the time we were in the court room he was trying to explain his story and was failing miserably. Whether he was lying and didn't remember we don’t know, nor will we know whether he was on the stair when the man pulled the gun out or whether the man had a gun or how in the world a scrawny guy like him wrestled the accused burly man down. His story was confusing and frankly rather dull - full of confusing nonsense. Judge Frank DeLuca must have agreed because he continued to clean his spotless glasses with hazy eyes.
Finally, he finished his puzzle-piece of a story and the trial moved on. Two policemen, Kyle Schlagel and Brian Rasdale, were the next witnesses. I can't tell you what a relief to hear a well answered question without the slightest stutter: "Yes ma'am. No ma'am."
As their story progressed, the man who had been in the house ran out into a car and drove at the policemen. Neither were hit, so they ran to their car and started to chase the man. Imagine this car chase: downtown Lansing, Michigan, snowy and icy, and going sixty miles per hour! Thankfully they were safe and managed to catch him. Their recount of what happened brought clarity and credibility to the story, remembering down the street name and speed limit of the roads they drove on.
The judicial trial was not quite what I expected, but I nevertheless found it interesting and enjoyed it. I was grateful I got the chance to go and experience the Judicial part of government.
