In longstanding tradition (this year makes 30 years, according to Roanoke County Public Schools Community Relations Specialist Chuck Lionberger), Student Council Association (SCA) members at Hidden Valley Middle School held a mock trial at the Roanoke County Circuit Court Building on Tuesday, March 20.

Members of the court community, including Judge William Broadhurst, attorneys John Fishwick and Aaron Lavinder and Deputy Stan McMillion, volunteered their time on Tuesday to hear three mock cases involving a firearm on school property, an incident of assault with a lunchbox and drug sales on school property.

Coordinated by social studies teacher Tara McBride, the students got to see first hand what it feels like to be involved in those incidents. Students acted as witnesses for both the prosecution and the defense. Assistant Principal Michael Riley and School Resource Officer Todd Cunningham also testified in the mock cases.

Participation in the mock trial is only open to eighth graders at Hidden Valley Middle School, an honor for which some students wait anxiously through two years.