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The Supreme Court of Ohio<\/a> has a mission to educate students across Ohio about the justice system. In certain instances, the Supreme Court brings that initiative directly to young Ohioans. <\/p>\n The Court\u2019s most visible example of this is its Off-Site Court Program<\/a>. Once or twice a year, the justices travel to an Ohio high school for a special session of the Court and hear oral arguments in front of high schoolers and other community members. <\/p>\n Teacher Carole Pontious and her students at Fayette Christian School were among the nearly 400 people to attend the latest Off-Site Court recently at Miami Trace High School. Pontious was equipped with a unique skillset for the occasion as both an educator and a lawyer. <\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re going to be a good attorney, you need the ability to communicate and [teach] your craft to the general public,\u201d Pontious said.<\/p>\n Right after receiving her law degree in 1999, she started practicing law and teaching it as an adjunct professor specializing in business and real estate law. She only started teaching high school students in 2020 when Fayette Christian needed a social studies and civics teacher in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n In the lead up to the Court\u2019s 80th presentation of the Off-Site program, Pontious utilized class time to prepare her students. The Supreme Court\u2019s Civic Education<\/a> team provides materials for Off-Site Court about the appellate process and the specifics of each oral argument, but the staff also has developed separate lesson plans that other teachers can incorporate year-round into government studies about Ohio\u2019s judicial system. Under Advisement<\/a> is a program that leads students through an in-depth study of an already-decided Supreme Court case utilizing original materials. <\/p>\n Pontious said the robust civic education resources kept her students engaged ahead of the occasion, turning \u201cone suggested class period into an all-week event.\u201d <\/p>\n After each oral argument, students discuss what they witness with the attorneys. It serves as an opportunity not only to better understand what happens during each side\u2019s 15-minute presentation to the Court, but also to know more about the path to becoming a lawyer and what it\u2019s like to be one. <\/p>\n \u201cThey saw the human side of each of those attorneys,\u201d said Pontious. Students\u2019 questions ranged from what work goes into a Supreme Court case to how to manage mental health when handling traumatic cases.<\/p>\n Fayette is the 72nd county to host Off-Site Court. County representatives \u2013 typically judges \u2013 invite the Supreme Court to their community. Once accepted, the Court then coordinates the logistics of the special session with an area high school to host the occasion and with neighboring high schools to attend.<\/p>\n The most recent instance was an experience for the students of Miami Trace, Fayette Christian, and Washington high schools. It was especially valuable for one of Pontious\u2019 students, who has her sights set on the legal profession.\u00a0 <\/p>\n Emily Barker, a senior, was a state winner of the Ohio American Legion\u2019s Americanism and Government test. Her 98% score was the highest among other high school seniors for the exam that gauges national, state, and local civic education through a 50-question format \u2013 true and false, multiple choice, and fill-in-the-blank \u2013 and an essay. She also has earned an academic scholarship to Waynesburg University in Pennsylvania. Her scholarship program focuses on constitutional studies and moral leadership to prepare students for roles in law and government.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to help people, and I want to go forward and just make the world a better place and improve our criminal justice system,\u201d Barker said.<\/p>\n Barker was chosen to represent her school at a post-event luncheon hosted for the Court and the justices. In her speech, she shared her goal of one day becoming a state or federal prosecutor and her appreciation for all the lessons learned through Off-Site Court. Whether it was hearing advice from the justices about achieving career goals or learning more about Ohio\u2019s court system, it all provided her knowledge that can be applied the same way Pontious did with her legal studies \u2013 to educate and aid others through the law.\u00a0 <\/p>\n \u201cThis year, [the students and I] have had a lot of opportunities to learn,\u201d Pontious said. \u201cWhen you have an opportunity, whether it\u2019s in class or a chance to meet and hear from Supreme Court justices, you run toward it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n