Culpeper high school students learn about adult responsibilities in annual event

A Circuit Court Judge, multiple lawyers, the Culpeper County Sheriff and the Town of Culpeper Chief of Police spoke to a crowd of Culpeper County High School students on April 18 about the responsibilities that come with turning 18.

“As graduation nears, we speak annually to the high school seniors about both the privilege and responsibility of turning eighteen” said County of Culpeper 16th Judicial Circuit Judge Dale Durrer.

Nicknamed “Law Day” law professionals visit local schools to educate rising seniors about topics such as voting, signing contracts, military service, jury duty, driving laws, being charged criminally as an adult and other responsibilities allocated to them as they become a legal adult according to Virginia and federal law.  

President Dwight D. Eisenhower established Law Day in 1958 to celebrate the rule of law in a free society.  In 1961, Congress passed a joint resolution declaring May 1st “Law Day.” According to the American Bar Association, the theme for Law Day 2024 is “Voices of Democracy.”

Students received a Virginia State Bar publication entitled “So You’re 18: Answers to questions about your legal rights and responsibilities.” The thirty-one-page publication is published by the Virginia State Bar’s Conference of Local and Specialty Bar Associations.

The panel included: Judge Dale Durrer of the Culpeper Circuit Court, Culpeper Sheriff Timothy Chilton, Culpeper Chief of Police Chris Settle, Culpeper County Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Maggie Cleary, and local attorneys Steve Lewellyn and Rex Edwards from the Culpeper law firm of Davies, Barrell, Will, Lewellyn & Edwards.

Following introductions, students asked questions ranging from how to avoid traffic ticket to how the respective panelists chose their career paths.

Durrer noted that “this year’s questions showed a lot of reflection and thought by the students.”