Last Friday, Cobb County's Superior Court launched the first session of its "Courtroom to Classroom" program for the 2025-2026 school year, with a group of lively fifth graders from Due West Elementary. The initiative, intended to demystify the legal system for young students, brought 106 eager minds from local elementary schools to participate in a hands-on mock trial, as reported by Cobb County Government News.
The day was filled with more than the usual trot through the judicial process; these students dove head-first into the roles of jury members, attorneys, and witnesses—complete with a staged bicycle theft case. Judges Angela Z. Brown and Jason D. Marbutt offered real-time feedback, the former stating, "This program gives our young students a chance to experience the justice system in a positive, hands-on way," as noted by the county's official website. The opportunity also allowed the kids to take a peek behind the courthouse curtain, visiting areas typically out of public view, like the holding cells.
As part of the program, students get to witness how court proceedings unfold and meet the professionals who run them, fostering their curiosity and understanding of the law's function. Judge Marbutt, who has a background in education, underscored the program's educational value, "As a former teacher, I enjoy the opportunity to educate students about the courts," as per Cobb County. Indeed, it seems the Superior Court is not just about passing sentences but also passing on knowledge to the community's youngest.
The endeavors of Cobb County's Superior Court in civic education are evident, with the "Courtroom to Classroom" initiative serving as a practical bridge between textbook theory and real-world application. The program is open to fourth- and fifth-graders, an experience that Judge Brown believes can instill "a lifelong appreciation for fairness and justice," as mentioned in the county's official website. Educators keen on providing their students with this educational outing are invited to book a session, availability permitting, in the courthouse's educational calendar.
