Southfield

Judge holds court at Birney K-8 School

By Jennie Miller
C & G Staff Writer

» Click on image to view full size « Photo by David Schreiber Southfield’s 46th District Court Judge Shelia Johnson prepares to address attorney Crystal Johnson at Birney K-8 School Feb. 13. Photo by David Schreiber Southfield’s 46th District Court Judge Shelia Johnson prepares to address attorney Crystal Johnson at Birney K-8 School Feb. 13.

SOUTHFIELD — “I want to be a better person.”

An 18-year-old Lathrup Village resident shared that sentiment with 46th District Court Judge Shelia Johnson Feb. 13 before a gymnasium full of eighth-graders at Birney K-8 School.

The teenager was facing charges of retail fraud in the third degree, and a possible 93 days in jail and a $500 fine for the misdemeanor offense.

He agreed to have his case heard in a special court proceeding before the crowd of students who are learning about the judicial system in their social studies classes.

“This is our first time doing this,” said Mary Anne Van Ermen, a social studies and language arts teacher at Birney, adding that the experience ties right into the students’ academic studies. “They’re studying the history of the U.S. in terms of how our justice system began. But this is also part of character education — civic responsibilities, how we act in a community, and how a community operates as a whole. They’re learning that there are consequences for their actions and due process of law.”

Prior to declaring court in session, Johnson, who was elected in 2002, gave the students an overview of the geographical and legal jurisdiction of the 46th District Court. She explained the various cases that come before the judges from Southfield, Lathrup Village, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Franklin and Southfield Township. The cases include civil lawsuits, criminal misdemeanors, non-traffic misdemeanors, arraignments, preliminary examinations of all felony cases, traffic misdemeanors and civil infractions, and small claims and landlord-tenant disputes.

Joining Johnson at Birney were her court clerk and court reporter, city attorney Dawn King, and defense attorneys Crystal and Vassal Johnson, a brother-sister duo who once attended Birney Middle School and graduated from Southfield-Lathrup High school, and whose practice is in Southfield. Several of their clients agreed to have their misdemeanor cases heard before the crowd of students.

The Lathrup Village teenager who got busted for shoplifting from Macy’s at Northland Center accepted a plea bargain and pleaded guilty to an added charge of disorderly conduct in exchange for the dropping of the retail fraud charge, and asked for probation. However, he had a previous assault and battery charge on his record, for which he’d already received probation.

He told the judge he was stealing in order to get money to pay for his court fines on the prior matter.

“You thought you weren’t going to get caught,” Johnson said. “Well, you got caught.”

When the defendant told the judge that he wanted to be a better person, she replied in such a way that would resonate with the students in the building.

“What’s stopping you from doing that now?”

Ultimately, Johnson agreed to extend the teenager’s probation and issue him a curfew in addition to a hefty fine.

“I thought it was a wonderful experience for our students to see that type of stuff in real life,” said Birney Principal Edward Hill. “Instead of hearing about it or seeing it in the paper, they saw the real-life cases in action. It was also an opportunity for them to see a couple of Birney alumni in action.”

The retail fraud case really hit home for them, Hill said.

“We got a lot of positive feedback — the kids really commented on that one,” Hill said. “He was close to their age, so they could relate to him more than anyone else.”

Van Ermen hopes the underlying message of the court session was clear.

“I’m hoping that they learn from the experience and understand (the importance) of upholding good character,” she said.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Jennie Miller at jmiller@candgnews.com or at (586)279-1108.