The “good side” of the Johnson County Teen Court program celebrated its annual banquet Thursday, honoring teens and individuals responsible for making the program what it is.
Teen Court has been in operation in Johnson County for six years. Its focus is letting teens learn about the court system by staging trials complete with attorneys, judges and defendants, Johnson County Juvenile Services Director Lisa Tomlinson said.
“Teen Court is an opportunity for young people interested in the court process to learn first-hand about the court process,” Tomlinson said.
Teens who serve the court volunteer their time to learn about the legal system. All are upstanding youths who represent the community in positive ways, Teen Court judge Erin Bakker said.
“That is what the kids involved in this program do, and they do a heck of a job,” Bakker said. “That’s getting rarer and rarer these days.”
“They’re just awesome,” Tomlinson said. “They’re leaders in their community, and working in the Teen Court program sometimes brings out the leadership in that kid. They take care of their business, make sure they’re prepared and are highly involved in their schools.”
The teen court program also allows the teens opportunities to collect community service hours for organizations such as National Honor Society, Tomlinson said.
Throughout the night, representatives gave awards to both teens and the judges who volunteer their time to make Teen Court possible. Middle-school theater students were also on hand to present a one-act play called “Surviving Lunch.”
County Judge Roger Harmon, who presented awards to the teens with 413th District Court Judge William Bosworth, said he was particularly proud of the teens involved.
“It’s always an honor to see these young adults participate in Teen Court,” Harmon said. “This is an opportunity they have to grow in life.”
Teen “attorneys” represent other teens who’ve gone to court for minor infractions such as speeding tickets. However, Teen Court is not a replacement for municipal court or justice of the peace court, Tomlinson said. Rather, Teen Court is a supplement to the normal legal process.
“Teen Court does establish guilt or innocence,” she said. “The teen defendant who comes in front of Teen Court has to have pled ‘no contest’ or ‘true’ to the offenses in the original-jurisdiction court.”
Once in Teen Court, prosecuting and defending attorneys present the facts of the case and argue punishment, Tomlinson said. Punishments can consist of anything from community service hours, letter writing, specialized programs or jury duty in future Teen Court trials.
The judges involved in Teen Court are also volunteers, Tomlinson said.
“All of our judges are either licensed attorneys, judges of the JP courts, from the district attorney’s office or the county attorney’s office,” she said.
Many people contribute to Teen Court, but Tomlinson wanted to especially thank the county officials who strive to continue the program.
Burleson High School senior Tony Godfrey, who’s been volunteering with Teen Court all six years, said the experience has been positive for him.
“It opened me up a lot to the different people in the community,” he said.
In his time in Teen Court, Godfrey met many people and was given different perspectives on many subjects he wouldn’t have otherwise had, he said.
“It’s been great,” he said.
Philip Navarrette can be reached at
817-645-2441, ext. 2337,
or reporter@trcle.com.
Local News
Banquet honors judges, participants
Organization aims to show teens how legal system works
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Front, from left, are Grandview’s Caleb Hollingsworth, Cleburne’s Zach Haler, Joshua’s Jordan Garrett, Alvarado’s A.J. Castillo, Xavier Holbert, Kenny Adams and Marcus McNeil, Cleburne’s Conner Martyniuk and Godley’s Drew Benge. Standing, from left, are Alvarado’s Ronald Thomas, C.J. Johnson and Alex Gentrey, Grandview’s Austin Wylie and Caleb Armstrong. Not pictured is Alvarado’s Marcus Villarreal.
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The first-team offense included Alvarado quarterback Kenny West and Burleson quarterback Barrett Cain. -
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The second-team offense was led by Cleburne’s Quade Coward and Godley’s Rhett Brawner as the second-team quarterbacks. -
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Lady Jackets pick up first District 7-4A win
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Up-and-down Yellow Jackets split Friday’s matches at Little Elm Tourney
Both Cleburne soccer teams had mixed results on Friday in their respective tournaments.
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Standing, from left, are Grandview’s Ryan Breton (offensive most valuable player) and Austin Martinez (Ironman award winner), Alvarado’s Wayne Onderdonck (county MVP) and Brazos Fuller (co-newcomer of the year), Burleson’s Ayinde Alaajiy (co-newcomer of the year), Godley’s Blake Washinton (co-linemen of the year), Alvarado’s Tyler Bates (defensive MVP), Alvarado Head Coach Jeff Dixon (coach of the year) and Grandview’s Davis Scarbrough (co-linemen of the year).
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Indians on top of selections
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Four of Johnson County’s eight football teams qualified for the postseason in 2011 with Alvarado making it all the way to the Class 3A Division I state championship game at Cowboys Stadium against Tyler Chapel Hill. - Dixon repeats as AJC coach of the year
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Indians on top of selections
- Burleson
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Standing, from left, are Grandview’s Ryan Breton (offensive most valuable player) and Austin Martinez (Ironman award winner), Alvarado’s Wayne Onderdonck (county MVP) and Brazos Fuller (co-newcomer of the year), Burleson’s Ayinde Alaajiy (co-newcomer of the year), Godley’s Blake Washinton (co-linemen of the year), Alvarado’s Tyler Bates (defensive MVP), Alvarado Head Coach Jeff Dixon (coach of the year) and Grandview’s Davis Scarbrough (co-linemen of the year).
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Indians on top of selections
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
Four of Johnson County’s eight football teams qualified for the postseason in 2011 with Alvarado making it all the way to the Class 3A Division I state championship game at Cowboys Stadium against Tyler Chapel Hill. - First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
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Indians on top of selections
- Godley
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Standing, from left, are Grandview’s Ryan Breton (offensive most valuable player) and Austin Martinez (Ironman award winner), Alvarado’s Wayne Onderdonck (county MVP) and Brazos Fuller (co-newcomer of the year), Burleson’s Ayinde Alaajiy (co-newcomer of the year), Godley’s Blake Washinton (co-linemen of the year), Alvarado’s Tyler Bates (defensive MVP), Alvarado Head Coach Jeff Dixon (coach of the year) and Grandview’s Davis Scarbrough (co-linemen of the year).
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Indians on top of selections
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
Four of Johnson County’s eight football teams qualified for the postseason in 2011 with Alvarado making it all the way to the Class 3A Division I state championship game at Cowboys Stadium against Tyler Chapel Hill. - First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
- Cleburne, Grandview, Burleson lead second team offense, defense
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Indians on top of selections
- Grandview
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Standing, from left, are Grandview’s Ryan Breton (offensive most valuable player) and Austin Martinez (Ironman award winner), Alvarado’s Wayne Onderdonck (county MVP) and Brazos Fuller (co-newcomer of the year), Burleson’s Ayinde Alaajiy (co-newcomer of the year), Godley’s Blake Washinton (co-linemen of the year), Alvarado’s Tyler Bates (defensive MVP), Alvarado Head Coach Jeff Dixon (coach of the year) and Grandview’s Davis Scarbrough (co-linemen of the year).
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Indians on top of selections
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
Four of Johnson County’s eight football teams qualified for the postseason in 2011 with Alvarado making it all the way to the Class 3A Division I state championship game at Cowboys Stadium against Tyler Chapel Hill. - First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
- Cleburne, Grandview, Burleson lead second team offense, defense
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Indians on top of selections
- Joshua
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Front, from left, are Grandview’s Caleb Hollingsworth, Cleburne’s Zach Haler, Joshua’s Jordan Garrett, Alvarado’s A.J. Castillo, Xavier Holbert, Kenny Adams and Marcus McNeil, Cleburne’s Conner Martyniuk and Godley’s Drew Benge. Standing, from left, are Alvarado’s Ronald Thomas, C.J. Johnson and Alex Gentrey, Grandview’s Austin Wylie and Caleb Armstrong. Not pictured is Alvarado’s Marcus Villarreal.
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First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
The first-team offense included Alvarado quarterback Kenny West and Burleson quarterback Barrett Cain. - Cleburne, Grandview, Burleson lead second team offense, defense
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First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
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- Rio Vista
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Front, from left, are Grandview’s Caleb Hollingsworth, Cleburne’s Zach Haler, Joshua’s Jordan Garrett, Alvarado’s A.J. Castillo, Xavier Holbert, Kenny Adams and Marcus McNeil, Cleburne’s Conner Martyniuk and Godley’s Drew Benge. Standing, from left, are Alvarado’s Ronald Thomas, C.J. Johnson and Alex Gentrey, Grandview’s Austin Wylie and Caleb Armstrong. Not pictured is Alvarado’s Marcus Villarreal.
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First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
The 2011 Lone Star Chrysler Dodge Jeep Autoplex All-Johnson-County football team has been announced. The team was chosen by the Times-Review sports department based on all-district selections and coaches’ nominations.
The first-team offense included Alvarado quarterback Kenny West and Burleson quarterback Barrett Cain. - Cleburne, Grandview, Burleson lead second team offense, defense
- Upcoming sports schedule
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First team offense, defense features host of area standouts
- Venus
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Fallen deputy Clifton Taylor’s sister, Megan Davis, takes a picture of a painting of her brother on Monday during a dedication to the deputy. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office renamed its building to the Clifton Taylor Law Enforcement Center in honor of the deputy who lost his life during a disturbance call in April. The picture was painted by Fort Worth artist Gary Crouch. Three pictures were made and one will hang in the Clifton Taylor Law Enforcement Center. The other two paintings were presented as gifts to Taylor’s parents and his fiancee.
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Never forgotten
The eyes of fallen deputy Clifton Taylor’s family began to swell with tears during a dedication hosted by Johnson County Sheriff Bob Alford and the sheriff’s office.
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Never forgotten
