Supreme Court justices took the stage on Thursday, as a man sentenced to six years in prison for attacking a wheelchair bound veteran is looking to overturn his felony conviction.  

Their audience on Thursday consisted of students from St. John’s.

With their gymnasium transformed into a courtroom, the Knights got the full experience, with armed marshals screening teachers and students.

They watched as real attorneys argued a real case before the island’s three justices.

The case involved Ken Jagabos, who was convicted in a 2022 assault on a double amputee at a Dededo bus stop. 

Jagabos was found guilty of felony terrorizing, felony abuse of an incompetent person, and misdemeanor assault but was acquitted of aggravated assault.

His attorney argued the jury’s verdicts were inconsistent, claiming he shouldn’t have been convicted of felony abuse if the jury didn’t believe serious bodily injury occurred. 

For many students here at St. John’s, this was the first time seeing a live court proceeding. 

“Honestly it’s an honor because we never get this kind of exposure from courts and we never get to see real cases. Usually students and faculty here don’t have that opportunity,” said Sophomore Hope Hutapea. 

It’s a normal scene for others like Sophomore David Lujan, who grew up in a family of lawyers. 

“It was pretty cool, but it felt kind of normalized because I’ve been to many of my grandfather’s court cases– Attorney David Lujan,” said Lujan. 

And for some, it hits even closer to home. 

One of their teachers, Mr. Norman Babia, actually served as a juror in the original trial.

“I think it’s very cool that people around us get to be jurors and are selected as jurors in these cases. Because the Mr. Babia that I know is very nice and he seeks justice,” said Freshman Gyubin Suh. “I hope to be a juror in one of the cases as well.”

The event is part of Law Month, a collaboration between the Guam Judiciary, the District Court of Guam, and the Guam Bar Association. Each year, they bring court proceedings to schools to promote civic understanding.

The Supreme Court will issue a decision on the appeal in the coming months. But for students here, the impact of witnessing the legal system firsthand is likely to last much longer.

In addition to the proceedings, Chief Justice Robert J. Torres swore in four attorneys from the Office of the Attorney General as temporary active members of the Guam Bar.