The sea of eighth-graders fell silent as Judge Julie A. Nicholson sentenced two individuals and one probation violator in her courtroom April 19.
Only it wasn’t at her usual courtroom at the 52-3 District Court in Rochester Hills, it was at the Oxford Middle School cafeteria.
Nicholson’s ‘Court in Schools? program starts with her actually conducting court sessions in front of the students.
Three individuals and their lawyers were brought before the judge for their alcohol and drug-related offenses, to which she sentenced them to community service and various fines.
Afterward, Nicholson spoke with the students about the consequences of driving while under the influence of alcohol.
To help show how alcohol can affect one’s driving ability, Det. Ron Tuski of the Auburn Hills Police Department conducted field sobriety tests, such as walking a straight line and catching a pen in mid-air, with student volunteers.
The students were given goggles that showed what small and large amounts of alcohol would do to impair their vision.
Of course, it was very hard to complete the tasks.
‘Just imagine if they can’t walk a straight line or catch a pen,? Judge Nicholson said to the crowd. ‘How do you think they can keep control of a two-ton car? Their vehicle becomes a weapon.?
At the end of the testing, students watched a video on the dangers of drunk driving and how it can effect innocent bystanders.