Judge Benjamin Makin speaks to Clarke Central High School students on Feb. 12 about criminal justice especially as it pertains to Serial, a podcast investigating the prosecution of Adnan Syed with Hae Min Lee’s murder.
By GRACE POLANECZKY – Opinions Editor
Clarke Central High School sophomore received a visit from Judge Benjamin Makin on Feb. 12, and got his take on the criminal justice themed content they’ve been learning this year.
Over the past couple years, Clarke Central High School English department teacher Christian Barner has had his Lit/Comp 10 students listen to Sarah Koenig’s groundbreaking podcast Serial, following the gripping story of Adnan Syed’s arrest.
This year on Feb. 12, sophomore Lit/Comp students got to hear what Athens-Clarke County Court Magistrate Judge Benjamin Makin thought about Serial, Reginald Rose’s Twelve Angry Men, the criminal justice system and more.
“I thought the students had a lot of great questions, obviously they’ve been reading and listening, and thinking about Serial and 12 Angry Men,” Judge Makin said. “I hope that it was informative to them as to how some of these issues might play out, even in their own communities.”
In the weeks prior to Judge Makin’s visit, Barner and fellow 10th grade English department teacher Brian Ash gathered engaging questions from students to ask the judge, writing them down to save for the special day.
“When we’re trying to address all this legal stuff, I don’t know about this stuff. I wanted some authentic person in here who could answer questions, who can give a real perspective on all this,” Barner said.
Students showed enthusiasm in learning about the legal system through discussing the Serial podcast.
“I really like Serial because I’m really into the criminal justice, and it really got my attention,” sophomore Kimberly Morales said.
Judge Makin anticipates what speaking with students will do.
“Hopefully today will help inspire them to continue to think about issues of the criminal justice system and what they want it to be,” Makin said.
