As part of the Classrooms2Careers initiative, students from St. Lucie Public Schools participated in the Mock Trial – Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions program at the St. Lucie County Courthouse. This hands-on experience gave students a unique opportunity to explore careers in law and the judicial system.
Students attended with their teachers from Criminal Justice, Law Academy, and related elective courses, representing four high schools:
- Fort Pierce Central High School – Mr. Wilder
- Fort Pierce Westwood Academy – Ms. Brown
- St. Lucie West Centennial High School – Mrs. Baumgarten and Mr. Nichols
- Treasure Coast High School – Mrs. Cintron-McCray, Ms. Cline, and Mr. Rios
The event was hosted in collaboration with Circuit 19’s Civil Discourse Program, led by Chief Judge Charles A. Schwab. Students participated in mock trials presided over by U.S. Magistrate Judge Shaniek Maynard, 19th Judicial Circuit Judge Michael Porter, and St. Lucie County Court Judge Lauren Sweet.
Local attorneys from the St. Lucie County Florida Bar Association, coordinated by Attorney Lily Chen, guided students in preparing their cases. In addition to the courtroom experience, students toured the Rupert J. Smith Law Library and met with Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller Michelle R. Miller and her team to learn about the Clerk’s role and services.
Through this immersive program, students gained valuable insight into the legal system and discovered a variety of career paths available in St. Lucie County.
