Students from Tea got a unique opportunity outside the classroom this week. On Monday, about 80 high school kids sat in on the South Dakota Supreme Court.

Learning about the highest court in the state is much different in person than in the classroom, or even TV.

“A lot of times you see courts on television, and they have this idea that this is what court is like. But we don’t see the trial part of it,” said said Ryan Decker, American Government teacher at Tea Area High School. 

“It’s not Judge Judy, it’s you know, you get to see the Supreme Court justices in action,” said Grant Schwarten, Junior student. 

Students got to hear about cases ranging from death row inmates pleading for another trial, to short-term loan centers debating new laws.

“All the cases were just really cool to hear about and the different processes that you have to do,” said Aspen Taylor, Junior student. 

Taylor knows a little about law. Her grandfather was a magistrate judge. However, that family connection may not be enough to convince her to take on the role herself.

“I’m glad I’m not having to be the one that puts somebody on either their plea for their life or death, and I’m also glad I don’t have to deal with somebody that could possibly lose their business and that could be their whole life,” said Taylor. 

Even if the students choose not to follow law as a career, their teacher hopes this experience will show them just how much the judicial system impacts everyone’s lives.

“It was an opportunity for them to see that first hand, because I can tell them about it but that’s not nearly as interesting as actually watching,” said Decker. 

“I think that South Dakota’s Supreme Court allowing students to go in and see what goes on in the background of social life that we don’t see, is definitely a great opportunity,” said Schwarten.