Two law students from Iceland visited the Court in October to learn about the American judicial system and said it was a helpful experience as they pursue their own careers in law.

"It is interesting to see how it works as opposed to in Iceland," Bjarki Steinarsson said. 

"I liked hearing how the jury works because we don't have a jury system in Iceland," Eiríkur Eiríksson said. "So that was very interesting how they can pick and choose and how they can eliminate or replace them." 

The students were joined by Ohio Northern University Law students, Alexandra Rogalski and Rachel Costa, during their visit to the Court. The Icelandic students were part of ONU's Icelandic Legal Exchange Program, which aims to help students learn the differences and similarities across legal systems through guest lectures and experiences like visiting the Courthouse. 

 During their visit, they watched a sentencing hearing, learned about the roles of Judges, the criminal justice system, the naturalization process and more. 

Chief District Judge Sarah D. Morrison, her law clerks, and Magistrate Judge Elizabeth A. Preston Deavers spoke to the students and answered their questions on a range of topics including how sentence is decided.  

"It was a pleasure hosting students from Iceland and Ohio Northern University and sharing with them the principles of our legal system," Chief Judge Morrison said. “Programs like the one at ONU help connect people across the world.”

Costa and Rogalski said visiting the Court was helpful to them as well. They will both be lawyers in just a couple years and being in the Courthouse and courtroom is a reminder of the responsibility they will carry. 

"I've known I wanted to go into law for a while and specifically be a prosecutor to be a voice for the people who don't have a voice," Rogalski said, adding that she wants to earn justice for young victims.

Costa also said being in the courtroom offers value that reading about case law in textbooks cannot.