What's Happening in Cougar Country

Lake Catholic was honored to welcome the Eleventh District Court of Appeals, one of 12 appellate districts in the state of Ohio, as it heard oral arguments in the case of State of Ohio v. Devon M. Vance. The case stems from a traffic stop that occurred in September 2024 and made its way through the legal process to the appellate level.

The school’s auditorium was transformed into a makeshift courtroom where Judge Eugene A. Lucci, Judge John J. Eklund, and Judge Matthew J. Lynch presided over the proceedings with the same structure and decorum seen in a traditional courtroom setting.

Representing the State of Ohio was attorney Kristi Coulson, while attorney Cory Hinton presented arguments on behalf of the appellant. Each side was allotted 20 minutes to present their case. Hinton used 15 minutes for his primary argument, followed by Coulson’s full 20-minute presentation for the state. Hinton then returned to use his remaining five minutes for rebuttal — giving students a clear look at how appellate advocacy unfolds in real time.

Several Social Studies classes, students in study hall, and members of Lake Catholic’s Mock Trial team filled the auditorium to observe the arguments in person. The proceedings were also broadcast live into classrooms throughout the building, allowing the entire student body to participate in the experience.

Unlike trial courts, appellate courts do not call witnesses or present new evidence. Instead, judges review the record of the lower court and hear legal arguments to determine whether the law was applied correctly. Throughout the session, judges actively questioned both attorneys — modeling the analytical thinking and legal reasoning that are hallmarks of the appellate process.

Following the formal arguments, students had the rare opportunity to engage directly with the judges and attorneys during an extended question-and-answer session that lasted nearly an hour. Students asked thoughtful questions about the case, the legal system, judicial decision-making, and careers in law — turning the morning into an interactive civic lesson.

Adding to the significance of the day, several Lake Catholic alumni who now serve in the judiciary were in attendance as honored guests: Judge John Trebetts (’74), Judge John O’Donnell (’80), and Judge Paul Malchesky (’90). Their presence underscored the lasting impact of a Lake Catholic education and provided powerful examples of faith, leadership, and service in action.

“Courtroom in the Classroom” was prevalent before the COVID pandemic, but is now being brought back in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States. The court plans to bring two cases to a school in each of the counties in the 11th District – Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, Portage, and Trumball – going forward.

By hosting this historic event, Lake Catholic provided students with a firsthand look at the judicial branch at work, which reinforced classroom learning with real-world experience. The event served as a reminder that civic engagement is not just something studied in textbooks, but something students can witness and participate in directly.

It was more than a lesson in government. It was history in the making.