Teen Court Attorney Natalie Ashlin accepts an award from Juvenile Case Manager Melissa Davis at the 2025-26 Teen Court banquet. Courtesy photo

By Allison LaBrot
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Wylie Municipal Court is seeking teen attorneys and jurors to handle the cases of their peers through the Teen Court program. The program is currently accepting applications for the 2026-’27 school year until the Friday, May 1, deadline.

Applications are available at wylietexas.gov/court and may be submitted by email, mail or in person. To be eligible, students must be in high school in the upcoming school year and be able to participate in the docket on the first Wednesday of each month from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Selected applicants must also attend mandatory training Wednesday, June 10, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A portion of the students will be chosen as Teen Court attorneys, while the remaining volunteers will serve as jurors.

Juvenile Case Manager Melissa Davis reviews each application and looks for students with an interest in public speaking, law, criminal justice and community service.

“These are young people who take their responsibilities seriously and understand that what we do in Teen Court has
a real impact on their peers,” Davis said.

For 10 years, the Teen Court program has offered teens ages 13 to 17 the opportunity to keep certain Class C misdemeanor cases off their driving or criminal records. Juvenile offenders who plead guilty or no contest can appear before a panel of Teen Court jurors, who listen to the facts of the case as presented by teen defense and prosecuting attorneys. The jurors’ determined sentencing always involves community service, with the possibility of educational or other state-mandated program participation.

Teen Court volunteers give back to the community while gaining knowledge and experience in the courtroom. Teen attorneys, specifically, receive case documents in advance and study the facts to prepare questions or speak with the defendant, depending on whom they represent.

“We are typically selected to represent the state or defense for the entire year at the beginning of the year. However, this year we switched at the second school term, and it has worked out really well,” Fatima Bhatti, a senior in her third year of Teen Court, said.

Attorneys receive notes at the end of each case that can include additional questions and angles that could have been explored.

“The volunteers for the Wylie program are all so knowledgeable and helpful, and you can tell they’re rooting for your success,” Natalie Ashlin, a senior and teen attorney, said.

Some teen attorneys, like Fatima and Natalie, also discover a career path through the program.

“From a freshman who was unsure of her career aspirations to now being a senior whose ultimate goal is to study law, I credit Teen Court as being the main influence on that decision,” Natalie said.

Fatima said her experience as a teen attorney also led her to pursue law and helped build her confidence.

“My participation in the program helped me realize that all the preparation in the world is not enough if I believe I won’t do well,” she said.

Teen Court can be especially beneficial for students interested in a legal or criminal justice career. Natalie recalled an evening when a local attorney attended a session and told her how impressed she was with the young attorneys.

She said the conversation showed how the program “helps you develop skills law firms actually look for.”

Those interested in Teen Court are encouraged to attend a session held at 6 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at the Municipal Court, 2000 N. Highway 78. Contact Davis at 972-429-8085 or [email protected] for more information.

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