Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
Judge Tanya Norris (seated behind bench) developed Teen Court in March 2025 when she attended the largest teen court in the state in Georgetown. With the help of Court Clerk Stacy Hamaker the two have created an actual courtroom experience for students under the age of 17. Teen Court is held monthly in the Oran White building in Tool. Jaxson Shafer (right) is defending Kenneth Ofosuhene (seated, left) for a class C misdemeanor (traffic violation) Jan. 19. Shafer is trying to convince the jury of his peers for a lower community service and lower jury time (which is part of the punishment). The defense attorney and prosecuting attorneys have gone through training with actual attorneys, who volunteered their time to train and create mock trials to prepare the student attorneys. 

Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
Teen attorneys Kinslee Shafer (from left), Jaxon Shafer, Shayla Dane, Dorothy Holt, Judge Norris and Torey Sawyer (not pictured) are ready to handle business during Teen Court Jan. 19. Teen Court is held in Tool once a month at the Oran White Building and teens from around the lake can participate. To volunteer or learn more about teen court contact Judge Norris at (903) 489-0474.

Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
Emma Hamaker is one of the student attorneys that has volunteered her time to either prosecute or defend an individual of a class C misdemeanor. The program has been in place for less than a year and it is showing progress with students returning to volunteer on a monthly basis. Judge Tayna Norris is spending an enormous amount of time and energy to see Teen Court become successful around the lake.