McChord JA participates in Law Day

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Divine Cox
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS MCCHORD, Wash. --  Judge Advocates from Joint Base Lewis-McChord gave legal advice to an unusual audience on May 25.

Members of the 62nd Airlift Wing Legal office visited with students of Carter Lake Elementary School on McChord Field, Washington during the nation-wide Law Day.

Law Day is a program sponsored by the American Bar Association, a professional organization which oversees the legal profession, and is designed to teach individuals about the legal system and its contributions to America's freedoms.

The theme for this year's day was "Miranda: More than Words."

"Law Day is a day to celebrate the rule of law and its many positive impacts on America," said Capt. Laura Quaco, 62nd AW Chief of Legal Assistance and Preventive Law. "I put together this volunteer opportunity to give students an insight on what happens in the American justice system."

The elementary students started with a classic version of the book, "The Three Little Pigs," and then were read another version that shows the Wolf's side of the story. Then, they were split into groups and learned some judicial terminology.

"The kids were really eager to learn the lingo," said Senior Airman Tracy Kuehner, 62nd AW paralegal.

After the students went over some of the vocabulary, the prepared themselves for the mock trial of the "Big Bad Wolf."

"The mock trial was a lot of fun for the kids," said Quaco. "Everyone was able to participate, whether it be as a judge, witness, attorney, jury member, or even the Big Bad Wolf."

Once the jury was done deliberating, they were allowed to give their verdict. Two out of the three classes thought the "Wolf" was innocent.

"Some of the students were eager to dish out harsh punishment to the Wolf," said Kuehner. "But I think they learned a valuable lesson regardless if they handed out heavy or lenient sentences."

Quaco said she believed that the kids enjoyed the Law Day activity that was planned for them.

"I asked them how they liked it and they all screamed and yelled," said Quaco. "A lot of them were really interested in the whole courtroom scene."

Other Judge Advocates went to Lakes High School, where the students learned about the 50-year-old Miranda warning.