$1.00
February 27, 2020
Prairie Development Corp.
$1,000 Trade School Scholarship! Kit Carson, Cheyenne, Elbert and Lincoln county high school seniors may apply. Applications are available from your school’s career counselor or superintendent. Deadline: 3PM on Friday, March 20th
ELBERT COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
Contact Candace Payne at 719-348-5562 or cpayne@prairiedevelopment.com for more information.
Day with DA’s crew offers lessons in law Elizabeth High students spend time with prosecutors, watch jury selection BY TABATHA STEWART SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
Y
oung people today spend a lot of their time looking at computer screens. Whether it’s looking at social media, playing video games, watching movies or even taking classes, much of what kids learn and experience is done electronically. Fifteen students from Elizabeth High School recently stepped out of the electronic world and into the real world of a courtroom, when they visited the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office to learn about criminal trial procedure. Students from John Loutzenhiser’s business law class spent the day observing jury selection for a DUI trial, asking questions and giving their input into the process. “This is the first time we’ve taken them to the DA’s office,” said Loutzenhiser. “The key difference is they actually sat in on part of the trial, and you just can’t get that experience from sitting in a classroom. They saw the reality of life.” Students started the day hearing from Amy Ferrin and John Kellner, chief deputy district attorneys, about their jobs, the court process and what to expect when attending a court room trial. DA George Brauchler explained more about the judicial district, then students
District Attorney George Brauchler speaks to students from Elizabeth High School about the judicial process. was actually selected,” said Loutzenhiser. “Judge Cutler was very candid about how serious jury duty is, and told the kids: `In our society we don’t ask you, as citizens, to do much. Pay taxes and once
were taken to a courtroom, where they saw firsthand how a jury is selected. “I think most of the students had a general knowledge about jury duty, but were able to see how a jury
in a blue moon show up for jury duty.’” During lunch, students were able to interact with the attorneys and ask questions about what they had seen. “These were a really bright
COURTESY OF 18TH DISTRICT COURT
group of kids who were thoughtful about what they saw, and asked good questions about the process and procedures,” said Ferrin.
THE BOTTOM LINE PERIODICAL
“We have to remove the stigma around suicide and have discussions.” U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner | Page 6 INSIDE
VOICES: PAGE 8 | CALENDAR: PAGE 12 | SPORTS: PAGE 10
ElbertCountyNews.net
VOLUME 125 | ISSUE 4
SEE LAW, P9