Islanders gain first-hand look at justice system - Jun. 11, 2010
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Kathy Bockus/Courier
Provincial Court Judge David C. Walker talks with two law class students from Campobello Island Consolidated School during a break in Tuesday's court session, June 8. The students, Daniel VanTassel, centre, and Ben Beney audited the day's court proceedings.
audit the court proceedings.
By KATHY BOCKUS
kathy@stcroixcourier.ca
ST. STEPHEN – There’s nothing like a trip to a courtroom to bring home the reality of all that law class material studied in school.
That’s what two Grade 12 students at Campobello Island Consolidated School learned when they made a trip with their teacher to observe proceedings at St. Stephen Provincial Court earlier this week.
“It’s important that they have real-life experiences,” said teacher Jamie Carr. “Now they’ve seen all the stuff we talked about applied.”
“Instead of just seeing it in our heads,” added Ben Beney.
“The judge took what we do in class and made it real,” said Daniel VanTassel.
The students and their teacher saw justice first-hand as Judge David C. Walker dealt with impaired drivers, a person uttering a death threat, cases of fraud, shoplifting, mischief, possession of stolen property, probation breaches and a case involving an American who was charged with smuggling firearms across the border into Canada.
Neither one of the young men have ruled out careers in law enforcement or in the courtroom. VanTassel plans to go to the University of New Brunswick in the fall and study engineering. Beney said he’s taking some time off and will look for a job before he pursues any future scholastic endeavours.
“Overall it was pretty interesting,” said VanTassel of his court visit.
Both young men were pleased the judge took time after the morning court session to answer their questions and explains some procedures they had witnessed.
“I thought he was a nice guy,” said Beney.
“He was very approachable and took time with us,” said VanTassel.
Carr said he and his fellow teachers try to get the students out and about to see various aspects of life in New Brunswick. They recently toured the legislature in Fredericton.
Carr said island life is far removed from a lot of things so an effort must be made to provide students with the opportunity to visit other communities.
There are eight students in this year’s graduating class at the school. Graduation ceremonies will be held the afternoon of June 26.
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