Students Learn Law, Life Through Chamber Junior Leadership Program

A group of high school juniors had the opportunity Wednesday to see how government works, with many of the students impressed with what they saw.

The students – who are part of the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce Junior Leadership program – visited the Jonesboro Municipal Center, Jonesboro Police Department as well as the Craighead County courthouse.

Shelle Randall, who works with the program, said the students had the chance to talk to Craighead County Judge Ed Hill, Craighead County Sheriff Marty Boyd and Jonesboro finance director Ben Barylske about their jobs.

The juniors then spent their afternoon learning about the legal system by participating in a mock court session.

Circuit Judge Cindy Thyer and deputy prosecutor Val Price spoke to the kids about courts.

Thyer, who hears cases in the six-county judicial district, told the students that receiving a law degree is tough work.

She said most law courses only have one test per class, leading to students working hard to do well.

Price told the students that many law students take an interesting route to becoming attorneys.

“One of our prosecutors was studying to be a rocket scientist with NASA. He had jury duty one day and decided ‘this is fun’ and was something he wanted to do,” Price said. “We have a judge who was a PE major (in college).”

Randall said Thyer has worked with the program for three years.

“We could not do this without her and each year, the class loves it,” Randall said.

Emily Doggett, a junior at Nettleton High School, said the program has helped her.

“I have enjoyed learning something new,” Doggett said, noting the trip to the courthouse and the mock court session was fun for her. “The mock trial, you get to learn about the different aspects of judges, juries and attorneys.”

Matt Burns, a junior at Nettleton High School, said he is interested in working in either healthcare or law when he graduates from college.

“It has given a background of how government works and the role of the courthouse,” Burns said. “I am interested in law and did not know you could get any degree (before going to law school).”

Burns said the leadership program has given him an opportunity to learn about the world around him.

“It shows how the community works together and how to get involved in the community,” Burns said.