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Though San Benito County Superior Court Judge Omar Rodriguez was 40 miles southeast of his courthouse, he donned his robe and gathered up his blue code book and gavel.
Rodriguez was visiting with Panoche Elementary School students Oct. 10 as part of the Judges in the Classroom program, where he spoke about his career. He has previously visited students at Ladd Lane, Rancho Santana and R.O Hardin schools in Hollister.
Seven students, who ranged in grades from kindergarten to fourth grade and share one classroom, passed around the gavel Rodriguez brought to the classroom and asked questions.
Alexsia Solis, 9, said she thought the code book was interesting, and another student told BenitoLink he learned that some laws can be contradictory.
In his presentation, Rodriguez explained how he frequently goes back to the code book, which looks like three Harry Potter books put together, when working or preparing for a case.
“I want to make sure I do the right thing,” he said. “Everyone expects me to have the answers. I don’t always have the answers.”
As an activity to engage the students, Rodriguez made up a hypothetical law in which animals are not allowed on school premises. He gave the students different scenarios and asked them to identify whether they broke the law. Among those scenarios was bringing a stuffed animal. A student said he believed the law was aimed at preventing real animals from damaging property.
Rodriguez’s activity seemed fitting as the students could not avoid discussing their own pets, particularly cats and dogs, with the visiting judge.
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Judges in the Classroom is a statewide program aimed at informing the public about the judicial process and roles.It began in Butte and San Diego counties in 2018.
“Sometimes people don’t know they can grow up here and have the opportunity to become an attorney or be a judge,” Rodriguez said, “so I can tell them ‘Yeah, you can do that.’”
Though the Panoche Elementary School students appeared shy and didn’t ask many questions, he said overall students have shown interest. “They’re engaged and curious and that’s why I’m here,” he said. “They want to know about judges.”
Rodriguez told the students he spent 10 years as a lawyer before being elected to the bench in 2018.
On a personal note, Rodriguez said this program allows him to get to know the county better. He said this was his first time traveling to Panoche.
“There’s been a couple schools that I’ve visited in south county,” he said. “I’ve never driven on this road.”
Rodriguez is scheduled to visit more classrooms at Ladd Lane, Rancho Santana and Marguerite Maze Middle School.
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