Edmundite Missions teens learn conflict resolution at mock court case on Friday

Students from Edmundite Missions’ education programs in Selma participated in a mock courtroom exercise Friday designed to teach them how to respectfully discuss difficult issues and make informed decisions with guidance from federal court staff and attorneys.

Twenty-four high school students from across the Selma area took part in the Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions (CD3) program at the recently renovated federal courthouse in downtown Selma on June 12.

CD3 is a national federal court initiative that brings students into courthouses across the country to participate in realistic simulated hearings involving issues relevant to teenagers. Friday’s case centered on a 19-year-old accused of making threatening social media posts directed at an ex-girlfriend.

The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama has hosted the program regularly in Mobile since 2022 and expanded it to Dallas County in 2023. Traditionally, the program is held during the school year and draws high-achieving students from schools across the county, many of whom have never met before.

This year, organizers partnered with Edmundite Missions to include students from a wider range of academic backgrounds who participate in the organization’s tutoring and mentoring programs.

Andy Arrington, assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Alabama, said the change was intentional – to reach students who could benefit from learning how to work through disagreements by discussing their ideas and listening to opposing viewpoints. 

Students were divided into prosecution and defense teams and paired with volunteer attorneys who helped them prepare arguments. They then presented their cases before U.S. District Judge Kristi DuBose, who served as the presiding judge for the simulation.

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Throughout the hearing, DuBose challenged students to think critically and defend their positions.

At one point, she asked a student whether a skull-and-crossbones emoji used in the social media post constituted a direct threat. After reviewing his notes, the student argued that the defendant was seeking attention rather than making a genuine threat.

“That’s a good answer, and it was off the cuff,” DuBose told the student. Turning to the group, she added, “You’ve got to be prepared because judges will do that to you. They’ll ask additional questions.”

A separate group of 14 students served as the jury. After hearing arguments from both sides, jurors deliberated and explained the reasoning behind their decisions.

The discussion highlighted the program’s emphasis on civil discourse. Some students argued that the defendant’s posts were protected by free speech and artistic expression, noting that he was a rapper. Others believed the messages crossed the line into threatening behavior.

The exercise ultimately ended in a hung jury — an outcome organizers consider a success.

“We almost always get a hung jury, and that’s what we want,” said Melissa Rankin, a U.S. Probation Office specialist who oversees the program. “The goal is for them to talk it out.”