If you feel the court made a mistake in YOUR case, take it right on over to the court of appeals. Was there illegal use of evidence during your trial? Appeal it! Did a procedural error take place in the courtroom? Appeal it! Was there a typo in the facts of the case? Appeal it! (Disclaimer: the verdict made in the trial courtroom will most likely not be altered.)

Last week, Mrs. Bass’s 3rd and 8th period Government and Politics AP classes took an all-day field trip to the Broward County District Court of Appeals.  After an information session featuring a Q&A with Mike Satz, Florida’s state attorney (Fun Fact: he is also the uncle of our very own senior Rebecca Brody!), the students ventured into the courtroom to hear three live, oral arguments.  The cases ranged from plain old insurance and retirement benefit quandaries all the way to a murder trial.  These were overheard by Judge Polen, Judge Levine, and Judge Damoorgian, husband of Pine Crest’s very own Mrs. Pat Damoorgian.  Like in any other court, each lawyer had to face sudden interruptions and endless interrogations while on the podium.  After we watched these knowledgeable judges in action, they gave us the privilege of a post-session Q&A discussion.  Overall, the entire day was eventful, educational, and of course, judicial.  We owe a huge thanks to our wonderful teacher Mrs. Bass, and to everybody else involved in making this trip possible.