Trial By Peers® (TBP) is a community wide program whereby local youth can participate in the legal process by prosecuting or representing peers accused of juvenile offenses. The TBP program trains junior high and high school students in basic juvenile law and other appropriate legal courses. The students must complete a summer program that is taught by attorneys and members of the judiciary. The students then take a mini bar examination. The students who pass the bar examination are sworn in as peer counselors and admitted to practice law in the TBP program.

Initially, the peer counselors handle sentencing arguments for the “guilty cases” and move toward handling the cases where the individual has pleaded “not guilty.” The peer counselors are assigned cases that consist of trespassing, shoplifting, fighting, throwing objects at others, and curfew, among other offenses. The peers prepare their cases under the supervision of a Nevada licensed attorney, who also appears at the trial with the peers.

This is a worthwhile program that clearly has a positive effect on the community and the juvenile court system as it helps to reduce the juvenile court caseload. Most importantly, we are proud that the recidivism rate for the juvenile offenders who complete this program is consistently lower than those individuals who go through the regular juvenile court system. The benefit to Clark County is a lower number of repeat offenders, an alternate program supported by the legal community, and lower cost within the court system.

The committee convenes once a month; however, members are expected to teach in the summer program and to act as senior attorneys throughout the year. The amount of time depends on the number of cases that an attorney assists with throughout the month. On average, four hours per month is spent if an individual attends the committee meeting and acts as a senior attorney for one night of cases. There are four co-chair positions on this committee: Doreen Spears-Hartwell, Co-Chair in charge of Funding/Grant Research; Tara Newberry, Co-Chair in charge of Student Relations; Karen Whelan, Co-Chair in charge of Legal Issues; and Elizabeth Ashley, Co-Chair in charge of Student Education. The executive board liaisons are Hon. Steven J. Dahl and A. Wayne Carter. Additional committee members include: Elizabeth Ashley, Paola Armeni-Androvandi, Elizabeth Ashley, Joice Bass, Mary Chapman, Lucinda Coumou, Hon. Stephen J. Dahl, Hon. Chris Lee, Kara Krause, Martin Orsinelli, Patrick Orme, Ed Poleski, Hon.Frank Sullivan, Rene Vallardares, Helen Towlerton and Karen Whelan. 

Volunteer Judges Include: Hon. George Assad, Hon. Linda Bell, Commissioner Bonnie Bulla, Hon. Elissa Cadish, Hon. Stephen Dahl, Hon. Elizabeth Gonzales, Hon. Douglas Hedger, Commissioner Jennifer Henry, Hon. Sean Hoeffgen, Michael Koning, Hon. Frank Sullivan, and Hon. Warren VanLandschoot.

The committee meets at noon on the fourth Thursday of every month at the CCBA offices. In addition, the trials are held throughout the month in Clark County courthouses at 5:30 p.m. For more information, contact CCLF Program Director Jade Deitrick.