Thirteen new members were inducted into the Ketchikan Youth Court on Dec. 1. (Photo courtesy Glenn Brown, KYC executive director.)
Thirteen young local residents now are qualified to practice law in Ketchikan Youth Court.
They range in age from 11 to 17, and each completed eight weeks of training and passed a bar exam, according to Youth Court Executive Director Glenn Brown.
They were inducted into Youth Court during a ceremony on Thursday, and were sworn in by Ketchikan Superior Court Judge Trevor Stephens, who also was their instructor during the eight-week training period.
Thursday’s ceremony marked a first for Ketchikan Youth Court with a second-generation 
KYC member. Brown writes that new inductee Kiara Weber’s mother, Christina Weber, was a graduate of one of the first training classes.
Ketchikan Youth Court is a nonprofit organization that provides an option to traditional court for first-time juvenile offenders, who are referred to the program by state court and local law enforcement. Youth Court started in Ketchikan in 1999.
Youth Court members serve as defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, etc., and offenders receive sentences designed to hold the juvenile accountable.
Brown writes that sentences include community work service, educational training, and other assignments to help offenders consider actions and consequences.
In addition to Kiara Weber, the new members are Ashley Anzueto, Ingrid Anzueto, Frances Barry, Alexa Gutierrez, Isabelle Hendrickson, Aedel-France Magno, Dametre Martin, Daniel Olmsted, Cathleen Pearson, Andrea Short, Madyson Traudt and Katori Young.
