Thanks to the efforts of Fountain Hills High School teacher John Burnett, history and economics, the Teen Court from FHHS attended Superior Court in Phoenix for a day of tours and court sessions that were very informative.

The teen class consisting of 18 juniors and seniors who were accompanied by Jim Brown, teacher aid Nancy Nichols, who worked in the court system for 17 years, and Junior Achievement volunteer Tony Pistilli, representing Rotary Club of Fountain Hills Youth Services.

Once at the court house, the group was escorted by two of the court system’s finest attorneys, Lawrence Cutler and Pauline Neeley, who introduced the teens into actual court case rooms; first stop, a hearing court conducted by Criminal Judge Bruce Cohen who, upon completing four case reviews, talked frankly and openly about his career.

Teens were then able to ask questions about becoming lawyers, policemen and forensic scientists.

Next stop on the tour was the courtroom of Family Court Judge Susanna Pineda, who spoke to the teens about her current murder case and also conducted an open discussion on her life, family and career, and responded to another barrage of questions.

The group was also briefed on the current status of the case by defense attorney Anne Phillips.

The teens also sat in a home burglary case. The final stop on the tour was the Scottsdale Road In n’ Out Burger for lunch, a unanimously delicious verdict.