Blount County’s first youth court became official this weekend as 30 students were sworn in as jurors of the court, the Daily Times reports. The Blount County Youth Court, a legacy project for the Leadership Blount Class of 2013, will operate under Juvenile Judge Terry Denton’s supervision. Student volunteers will hear cases and determine the sentences of first-time, nonviolent juvenile offenders. “They’re proven programs,” said Lynn Peterson, youth court president and attorney with Lewis, King, Kreig & Waldrop. “We’ve seen an increase in juvenile offenses, but many of these offenses are simply mistakes. Youth courts have been successful in turning them into opportunities.”
Lewis King was founded in 1960 and today has 58 attorneys in its three offices in Nashville, Knoxville and Sevierville.