Chad Dotson takes Court to School

WISE - Chad Dotson and Joey Carico once roamed the halls and classrooms of J.J. Kelly High School as students. On Thursday, they returned to their alma mater to teach today's pupils a thing or two about the court system. Joey Carico has long since traded his marching band uniform for the robe of a Wise County General District judge. These days, the bailiffs call him Joseph. Dotson retired his title as a sports standout. Today, he bears the title of Wise County commonwealth's attorney.

Dotson and Carico gave Wise County's juniors and seniors a close look at how court works by holding a real session in the school auditorium. It was the first time a court session has been held in a Virginia school, Dotson said.

He and assistant prosecutor Suzanne Kerney-Quillen decided several months ago to begin the Courtroom to the Classroom program in local schools. The idea is to show students who are edging toward legal adulthood that actions have serious consequences once they reach 18.

More than 300 students from the county's six high schools and J.I. Burton in Norton participated. The chatting stopped once the court officers took the stage.(Read it All)

Pretty cool stuff if you ask me. Over 300 students from area high schools were in attendance. This is a great way to introduce young people to the court system in a true professional way. This program may have affected some students heading down the wrong path. It also could have persuaded some students to pursue a career in law enforcement or another law related field. Hats off to Mr Dotson and his staff!

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