High school seniors from Atmore serving as jurors at the annual Law Day celebration on May 3 declared a mistrial during a trial at the Escambia County Courthouse in Brewton.

Every senior from Escambia County High School, Escambia Academy, Atmore Christian School and Precept Christian got a taste of what the judicial system is like during the annual celebration. Fourteen of the seniors were selected to be jurors for the real-life criminal trial case, and those selected included Darrien Abrams, ECHS; Jackson Breckenridge, EA; Nicholas Davison, ECHS; Destiny Freeman, ECHS; Elizabeth Garrett, ACS; ShaDiamond Harris, ECHS; Crystal Johnson, ECHS; Princess Lattimore, ECHS; Gabriella McGhee, EA; DeKaveon Reynolds, ECHS; Collin Richard, ECHS; Kaleb Stewart, EA; Levi Thomley, PC; and Melissa Wilson, ACS.

Judge Charles Price, a retired circuit judge out of Montgomery County, was the guest speaker at the event.

Price spoke about a citizen’s rights and the importance of establishing the framework of freedom.

Price is a former district attorney for Escambia County.

Circuit Judge Bert Rice gave an explanation of the ins and outs of the trial, including the prosecution and defense, the cross examinations, opening and closing arguments, the court’s charge and the jury deliberation.

Jeffrey Stearns, Escambia County assistant district attorney, served as the prosecuting attorney. Earnest White served as the defense attorney.

The case being tried in court was a felony drug and drug paraphernalia possession case in the matter of the State of Alabama vs. Bethanie Ward.

On May 4, seniors from the Brewton area participated in the annual Law Day celebration.

Those seniors who served as jurors included Stokes Jennings, T.R. Miller; Tori Knapp, TRM; Daisy Canty, TRM; Ty Lett, TRM; James Hart, TRM; Aliyah Lane, WS. Neal; Matthew Hutchins, WSN; Stephanie Johnson, WSN; Trentarius Ikner, WSN; Abigail Sessions, WSN; Alisa Brown, Flomaton; Shellie Harrelson, FHS; Antonio Hayes, FHS; and Zachary Brown, FHS.