Students Bring a Little Disorder to Courtroom

The usually somber Santa Ana courtroom looked more like a playground Tuesday as kindergartners swiveled wildly in the oversized chairs for jurors, clambered across the prosecutor’s desk and climbed onto the judge’s bench with sticky, chocolate-stained hands.

The hallowed halls of justice? Maybe not. But for these youngsters, the field trip to Superior Court was more than just a glimpse into government workings.

It was a chance, most of all, to see their beloved teacher, Toni Grotsky, who has spent the last month, and will spend the next few months, in the jury box.

“There’s Mrs. Grotsky!” the children whispered excitedly as they filed into the courtroom. Some pointed toward the jury box, others craned their necks to see her.

She responded with a smile and nod, keeping a dignified composure as she focused on the witness’ testimony.

In early April, parents waged a campaign of petitions, letters and children’s photos hoping to sway Judge Francisco F. Firmat into releasing Grotsky from the six-month civil trial.

Although Firmat denied the request, he invited the youngsters from Rancho Canada Elementary School in Lake Forest to tour the courtroom, where they could watch their teacher serve as a juror and learn why jury duty is an important civic duty.

“This is a beloved teacher and they want to have her back,” Firmat said. “I feel terrible about it, but I think they should understand why it’s important.”

Attorneys, jurors and spectators gave up their seats for a moment to let the children see the court from different perspectives.

Some scrambled into the prosecutors’ chairs. One wriggled up to Firmat on the judge’s bench. A dozen filled the jury box, sinking into the black leather seats and struggling to peek over the banister.

Briefly, Firmat explained the court’s function, likening the defense and prosecution to soccer teams with Grotsky and the other jurors in charge of picking the winner.

He led tours of the jury room--where baskets of cookies awaited the children--and his chambers.

“He’s got all those books,” said Devin Cotton, 5, eyeing the shelves along the walls of Firmat’s chambers.

In the end, Firmat said, he also learned from the children, who serenaded the court with “This Land Is Your Land.”

“My intention was to give a lesson in civics to the students. Instead, I’ve been treated to a lesson in beauty and innocence,” he said.

For the children, the best part of the trip was simple: “Going to see Mrs. Grotsky,” said Alex Merz, 6.