Field Trip!

Judge Leo Dorado

I love field trips. I try to go on as many as I can each year. Most recently I booked a trip to the movie theater to watch Disney's "Earth," and yesterday was our annual trip to Superior Court.


This was my fifth year to the Superior Court where my students act out mock trials. This is a field trip I look forward to every year because I am fascinated by the justice system and how it works. Most of the time I am happy to get a jury summons, although on the heels of last summer, I guess you can say I was happy to get out of having to serve this go around.



One of the most enjoyable aspects of this field trip we take to Oakland is the relationship I've developed over the past five years with Superior Court Judge Leo Dorado. I got to know him as a parent at the school where I teach a number of years ago and got the idea to book this trip through him. He's opened his courtroom for us to do our mock trials. He has visited my classroom to answer questions and discuss the branches of government and explain how the court system works. Judge Dorado has allowed our class to conduct the mock trials in his courtroom, letting the students sit in his seat, wear his robe, eat lunch with him, visit him in his chambers. He has simply been a great friend to my classroom through the years, and I appreciate his dedication and willingness to let us learn firsthand about how privileged we are to live in a free country.



Yesterday's trip was as enjoyable as all the rest of the trips to court I've taken with my classes. We acted out a civil trial (B.B. Wolf vs Curly Pig) and a criminal trial (The Murder of Humpty Dumpty). After the trials and a visit with Judge Dorado, we adjourned to the Jury Assembly Room to see the video that jurors must watch prior to serving, and then we had lunch. I snuck out to grab one of the court's famous hot dogs as I do every year.

At the end of the day, everyone seemed to have a great time. I'm looking forward to booking next year's trip!