Wolf and pig have their day in mock kid's court

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Judge Nancy Oesterle's courtroom was recently the site of a rather bizarre trial, Big Bad Wolf v. Curly the Pig. The jury had to decide whether Curly the Pig was guilty of attempted wolf cooking.

The roles of the defendant, plaintiff, bailiff, jury members, lawyers and witnesses were acted out by children from two third-grade classes from the Las Vegas Day School.

"It's hard but fun," said 9-year-old Erica Korbel, who served as one of Curly the Pig's two lawyers. "We practiced for about a week and we had rehearsals every day."

During the rehearsals of the court proceedings the jury was sequestered in another classroom to prevent bias.

For the fifth year, Oesterle invited Las Vegas Day School children into her courtroom to further understand the workings of the judicial system.

Sue Mowbray, a third-grade teacher at the school, said the trip emphasizes what the classes are currently learning about.

"We study the government and the judicial system in the third grade," Mowbray said. "We also visit other officials in town and it's a great way for them to learn what goes on in a courtroom. And the trial is scripted by the (American Bar Association), so it is realistic."

There were about 60 third-graders in costume, waiting to play their role in the mock trials, which were based on popular children's stories, such as the "Big Bad Wolf" and "Goldilocks and the Three Bears."

And the children went as far as remembering all of their lines, which they delivered quite well. But before the trials began, Oesterle gave the children a tour of her chambers, the bench and the holding cells.

The children tried out for their parts and they seemed to try to act the part as well, but they are in the third grade, so every once in a while they got a little antsy.

The bailiff became slightly bored at times and started waving his cape around, but they were professional by third-grade standards.

After deliberations the juries delivered two not guilty verdicts.

Curly the Pig was found not guilty of attempted wolf cooking and Goldilocks was found not guilty of bad manners.

"The verdicts are interesting," Oesterle said. "Every year we get different verdicts. They're always a lot of fun though, and the kids are so smart."

Helen Daseler, co-founder of the nondenominational and nonsectarian school, attended the field trip for the first time this year.

"This is such a delight to see this opportunity given to these young students by Nancy," said Daseler, who retired in 2000. "It's remarkable. The extra effort put forth by Nancy is wonderful."

But Oesterle doesn't want to be thanked.

"I know that they're thankful," Oesterle said as the jury was deciding the fate of Curly the Pig. "But I don't want them to write to me 'thank you,' I like them to tell me what they learned, that's what I like to hear."

Oesterle also participates in the county's Keys to the Courthouse program, which she spearheaded. Through the program Oesterle visits elementary schools throughout the valley every week and then brings the children to the courtroom to expand their understanding of the criminal justice procedure.