Colfax, Rosalia schools to launch youth courts

Two Whitman County schools this year will give their students the ability to act as a sentencing panel for students who violate school rules.

Robert Russell, a part-time teacher and athletics and activities director at Garfield Middle School, has set up Youth Courts in Colfax and Rosalia high schools.

Russell said the idea of the court is to give students a clearer picture of the inner workings of the American justice system.

“One of the things I tell my eighth graders is the closest to the constitution we ever get is serving on a jury,” said Russell.

Under the Youth Court setup, a student who...