NP3 Students Observe Criminal Court

By Sophie Pham
Staff Writer | The Pacific Times

NP3’s 10th-grade criminal law classes took a field trip to the Gordon D. Schaber Courthouse on November 20, 2025. 

Students learned about the court process by observing various Sacramento Superior Court hearings over a 2-3 hour period. They completed a sheet of questions given to them by the NP3 criminal law teachers as they observed. 

Students sat in the courtroom audience, listening and taking notes on what they heard, what they noticed, and what surprised them. There were many proceedings being conducted, and students got to see how the court handles cases. Students watched court proceedings in both Judge Joseph M. Cress’s and Judge Jerome Price Jr.’s courtrooms.

Each hearing was relatively brief, and many people did not appear for their hearings, during which the attorney represented their clients before the judge. The judge would call the case, and then the defendant would present their situation to the judge, providing evidence and reasoning. The defendant would then enter a plea and attempt to resolve the case with the judge. 

After the hearings, NP3 students and staff met with Judges Price and Cress, where they learned about their careers and experiences, as well as the justice system. Judge Price has been a judge since April 2024 and was previously an attorney. Judge Cress was a Public Defender and represented Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., also referred to as the Golden State Killer.  Judge Price and Judge Cress answered students’ and teachers’ questions about their education, experiences as lawyers and judges, as well as general questions about the justice system.

Criminal law teacher Staci Osborn described this field trip as helpful; “It expands (students) learning opportunities and often gives the real-world applications for what they’re learning in school.”

Students described the experience as interesting and surprising. 

Sophomore student Ava Bartle said, “I learned a lot about the process of our justice system and I was surprised by how many cases there was happening at one and just how far they booked out cases in advance.”

Another student who went on the trip, Genesis Andrews said, “I thought it was a very fun and interesting experience to see how a court hearing works. I learned about what happens during a plea and I saw the judge, attorneys, and bailiff do their jobs in court”.

Teachers plan to take the spring semester criminal law class on this field trip as well as future classes.