| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The student and adult volunteers of the Irving Teen |
|
|
Court provide an important civic service by taking part in a |
|
|
juvenile justice program that benefits the residents of Irving and |
|
|
also provides valuable experience for the young participants who |
|
|
fill the courtroom assignments; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, A deferred program of the Irving Municipal Court, |
|
|
Teen Court hears cases involving teenage defendants who have |
|
|
received a Class C misdemeanor ticket; young adults ages 14 and |
|
|
older serve as attorneys, jurors, clerks, and bailiffs as these |
|
|
cases are tried; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Prior to taking their places in the courtroom, the |
|
|
youth participants are trained for their duties by adult |
|
|
volunteers; Teen Court attorneys are tutored by professional |
|
|
lawyers and hone their skills as assistant and associate attorneys |
|
|
before taking charge of a case; teen jurors, clerks, and bailiffs |
|
|
also undergo training to prepare them to carry out their official |
|
|
functions; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, These young volunteers become part of an actual |
|
|
courtroom, with attorneys presenting the prosecution and defense |
|
|
cases and six-person juries deciding the verdict and sentencing |
|
|
defendants to perform community service if they are found guilty; |
|
|
and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In addition to the licensed attorneys who instruct |
|
|
the young litigators and serve as judges, other adult volunteers |
|
|
play crucial roles in the Teen Court proceedings by overseeing the |
|
|
courtrooms and handling administrative and training duties; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, By aiding the administration of juvenile justice and |
|
|
providing young citizens with first-hand experience in the legal |
|
|
system, the Irving Teen Court helps prepare youths for their |
|
|
future, and in so doing, contributes immeasurably to the well-being |
|
|
of this state; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby recognize the student and adult volunteers of |
|
|
the Irving Teen Court and commend them for their dedicated service |
|
|
to the community; and, be it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for the Teen Court as an expression of high regard by the |
|
|
Texas House of Representatives. |