Maconaquah students hear from local judge on Constitution Day

Sep. 19—BUNKER HILL — Miami County Superior Court II Judge Jacob Winkler and Maconaquah history teacher Matt Barnett wrapped up class Monday with a rendition of "The Preamble" from the popular "Schoolhouse Rock!" show.

Barnett was on guitar and provided the vocals while Winkler strung his banjo.

With a few minutes left in class, Winkler grabbed his mandolin and dueled Barnett. Both musicians strung their instruments as fast as their fingers could go.

"Who won?" Barnett asked the class.

The cheers were unanimous: the win went to the judge.

Prior to the jam session, students learned about the duties of the county judge. Winkler spent Monday at Maconaquah Middle School speaking to students, part of Constitution Day.

Constitution Day — Sept. 17 — recognizes the signing of the U.S. Constitution, which took place in 1787.

Barnett started class by explaining the significance of the day and the 39 men who signed the Constitution.

"We call them the Founding Fathers," the teacher said. "These guys changed the world. They set up how the country runs."

Barnett also touched on the three branches of government before introducing Winkler, a member of the local judiciary.

Students guessed what a county judge does, and Winkler read their answers.

"Unless they've experienced the court system, they don't really know," Winkler said. "That's not necessarily a bad thing."

Answers included a judge decides what to do with criminals based on the law and/or what the jury decides; who gets money in a case; how much one pays in a fine and where kids go in a custody dispute.

"Those are tough decisions judges have to make every day," Winkler said in response to the custody answer.

Put all their answers together, and the Maconaquah kids had a pretty good idea of what Winkler does.

The judge oversees both criminal and civil cases. He said presiding over civil cases is sort of like being a baseball umpire, making rulings based on evidence and the law.

A Maconaquah High School graduate, Winkler was elected to a six-year term last year.

Winkler talked about his journey from college student to law school to private practice. He served as a deputy prosecutor in Miami County before being elected judge.

The judge spent the entire school day talking to students and fielding questions.

One student asked him what the saddest part of his job was.

"Anything that is going to effect a kid," Winkler said.

One student asked if a public defender is any better or worse than a private attorney, an impressive question for a middle schooler.

"It was deep; I wasn't expecting that," Winkler said.

The Miami County judge was among 46 judges and judicial officials from around the state who met with students to commemorate Constitution Day.

"It's been a lot of fun," Winkler said.

Barnett hopes to get other special guests to speak to his classes for future Constitution Days, maybe even the governor.

Spencer Durham can be reached at 765-454-8598, by email at spencer.durham@kokomotribune.com or on Twitter at @Durham_KT.