About 40 Hennessey High School seniors had breakfast Wednesday morning at the Kingfisher McDonald’s before they went to the county ourthouse to meet several elected officers, ask them questions, and some took part in a mock trial.

Once inside the courtroom, District 2 County Commissioner Ray Alan Shimanek (1977 Hennessey grad) welcomed students, talked about his job and his background, and gave them advice.

He also explained that the county officers are elected by voters, and encouraged students to check out candidates, and vote. Shimanek said he didn’t envy the sheriff’s job because they have a 24/7 operation, though when the weather is bad his crews are out more than their usual 40-hour work week.

He was followed by Sheriff Dennis Banther who got the attention of everyone in the room when he explained the jailing process when someone is arrested.

He also explained the workings of the E-911 services that are also housed in the county’s Justice Center, and gave them advice about their futures.

Court Clerk Lisa Markus explained how her office coordinates with the court system scheduling, keeps records, and also is where people apply for marriage licenses, and her office also processes passport applications.

She said online court records (marriages, divorces, speeding tickets, arrests, charges) have been available for about four years.

Markus said certain records, such as cases involving abused children, that are not open to the public, and are not online.

Assistant District Attorney John Salmon explained that Kingfisher is in a district that includes Garfield, Blaine, Canadian and Grant counties, and he was appointed by District Attorney Mike Fields, Enid, who is an elected official.

Salmon said he gets information from the sheriff’s office and town police departments and decides if charges are to be filed. He said he doesn’t have as many early hours as the sheriff, but he has had to go out at two or three in the morning on a case or two.

Before Associate District Judge Lance Schneiter presided over the mock trial, he told students about the rules of the courtroom, such as no shorts, no sandals, no hats, no chewing gum, and no cell photos are allowed.

He explained that Deputy Desmond Barnett was in the courtroom to make sure those rules, and others, were followed.

The judge’s job is also an elected position, and he said he didn’t realize before he took office that most of his time would be spent reading briefs, or researching laws.

He explained his role in the justice system, the students’ responsibilities as citizens, and answered several questions of their questions.

The mock trial started after the names of jurors were drawn by the court clerk, then names of witnesses, prosecution and defense attorneys, and a defendant were chosen, while others volunteered.

Witnesses took the stand and answered questions from the attorneys, the six-person jury deliberated and made their decision, then the judge explained laws surrounding that case.

Hennessey Mayor Bert Gritz, a member of the United board that conducts the leadership program, also spoke to the group.

Leadership committee members Cathy Howard and Barb Walter were also on the trip, and are also United board members.