Solano Superior Court Judge Robert Bowers will be presiding over a DUI trial today with plaintiffs and defendants presenting their cases. The catch? It will all take place in Benicia High School’s Performing Arts Building auditorium.

This morning, approximately 400 students will witness an actual criminal trial, not a mock presentation. The judge, attorneys, witnesses, law enforcement officers and suspect are all real. The goal, according to Solano’s Superior Court, is to give students a firsthand look at how such trials are conducted. Such lessons include the legal repercussions of drinking and driving, the defendant’s arrest, the arraignment process, imposed fines and penalties if the suspect is convicted and the overall role of the judicial branch of government.

According to a news release by the Superior Court, one goal of the trial is to create a novel way to reduce alcohol-related issues and enable students to make more informed choices regarding the pressure to drink.

After the trial is over, Bowers will deliver a brief presentation and take part in an interactive civics lesson. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions of any of the parties involved to create a dialogue about the judicial process.

The DUI in the Schools Program is a joint effort with the Superior Court, the district attorney’s office, sheriff’s office, public defender’s office, Solano County Probation Department and participating school districts throughout the county. This program has been held at Benicia High in the past and is funded through a grant from the California Judicial Council.

The details of the case have not been disclosed to the public. The trial will be held from 8:10 a.m. to 12:10 p.m. It is open only to students and their teachers.

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