Wylie's Teen Court provides students the opportunity to learn more about the criminal justice system and gain valuable court experience while serving as teen jurors, prosecuting attorneys, or defense attorneys. The program, authorized by the Texas State Legislature, enables teens who have pled guilty or no contest to Class C misdemeanors to opt to have their case tried by peers in Teen Court.

Teen Court attorneys will present the state's or defendant's case to a municipal judge and teen jurors, with opening statements, direct examination, cross examination, and closing arguments, and then recommend appropriate sentences to the judge.

Wylie Teen Court is currently seeking volunteers to serve as Teen Court attorneys for the 2019-'20 school year. Interested students must apply by April 12. Applications are available online at WylieTexas.gov/departments/municipal_court and can be submitted by email, mail, or in person.

Teen Court meets the second Wednesday of every month from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Participants must be between the age of 15 and 18, enrolled in school, available during those times, and willing to commit for one school year. Students selected from the applicant pool will attend training Saturday, May 11, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Wylie Recreation Center, 300 Country Club Rd., Bldg. 200, Wylie, Texas. Attorneys will be chosen, and the rest will serve as jurors.

In addition to learning about criminal justice, Teen Court benefits include community involvement, development of critical thinking skills, teamwork experience, public speaking experience, and college experience.

For more information, contact Wylie Juvenile Case Manager Katonya Johnson at 972-429-8085 or katonya.johnson@wylietexas.gov. Information is also available at WylieTexas.gov/departments/municipal_court.