A decade plus of Seattle Youth Traffic Court
A Decade Plus of Seattle Youth Traffic Court by Seattle Municipal Court on October 22, 2024 In an era with civics education on the decline, one important annual program at Seattle Municipal Court (SMC) is introducing Garfield High School (GHS) students to the judicial process through Seattle Youth Traffic Court (SYTC). Youth courts take place nationwide and are primarily made up of volunteer middle and high school students with an interest in government. According to The Nation , there are approximately 1,400 teen courts in the U.S. that allow teens to be defended, prosecuted and sentenced by their peers. Garfield High School students getting sworn into their duties at Seattle Youth Traffic Court. On Oct. 21, about 25 students from GHS were officially sworn in to begin their (school-) year-long duties at SYTC. By statute, youth courts in courts of limited jurisdiction can handle civil infractions committed by individuals under 18. In fact, SMC h...