Students decide fate on Law Day

Published 6:00 pm Tuesday, May 9, 2023

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The Escambia County Courthouse’s main courtroom was filled Friday as students from Brewton, East Brewton and Flomaton attended the annual Law Day event in the county.
Escambia County Bar Association President Jim Hart addressed the students and provided a brief history of the event.
“This event began in the early 1980s,” Hart said. “Historically, the jury will hear an actual case and make a decision.”
Attorney Charles Godwin has coordinated the program for its 30-plus years of existence and Hart gave Godwin praise for his efforts. Tim Godwin, son of the founding attorney, was on hand for the event.
Attorneys Jim Whitt and Melissa Padgett, both assistant district attorneys in Escambia County, were at the table for the prosecution.
Representing the defendant in the case was Danny White, an attorney in Escambia County.
The case, which involved a Frisco City resident in a charge of driving under the influence, was presented to the students for their consideration of guilt or innocence.
Jurors were sworn in to consider the case and consisted of students from all three school represented. Chosen for the jury were Grayton Coale, Clair Hart, Joseph Pettis, Lauren Thompson, Johnathan Carter, Wendy Jimenez Aguirre, John Paul, Christian Smith, Destiny Hanks, Aniyah Kyles, Bryson Patterson Sa’Vion Odom and Levi Presley.
Students heard the case as presented by the prosecution attorneys and heard rebuttal testimony from the defense. At the conclusion of the trial, the jury found the defendant guilty as charged in the case.