Jacques was playing the role of a business owner who was sued for his role in the death of a pedestrian in a mock trial staged to give high school students a glimpse of what it’s like to work in the justice system.
That he was nervous at all about the outcome of a mock trial speaks to lengths organizers went to create a realistic experience for the members of
“A lot of high school students talk about wanting to graduate and wanting to leave
Tuesday’s demonstration included more than a mock trial. In fact, Jacques’ day started around 3 a.m. because he was interviewed for a morning television news show before students convened at Bay High.
From there it was off to the sheriff’s office for a demonstration of the bomb squad’s robots followed by a tour of the
The facts of the case were invented, but the lawyers, bailiff, and judge were real. Zach Taylor, an attorney for the law firm Manuel and Thompson who represented Jacques in the trial, put on a realistic defense complete with objections and compelling arguments, but trials are a small part of what a lawyer does.
“What you see in the courtroom is the tip of the iceberg,”
The students can learn that in law school if that’s the career path they chose. But Tuesday’s demonstration was only one of many; students have been exposed to possible careers in the military, health care and other industries.
Don’t look for Jacques in law school. He said an early visit to local health-care facilities solidified his desire to enter that field.
“That definitely had an impact on it, to go visit the hospitals,” he said. “I saw what all they had to offer and what all was going on, and I leaned toward it even more.”