Students witness judicial process

Judge Steve Shuff, 'Berg class of ’75, brought his Seneca County Common Pleas Court to campus on Thursday. In celebration of Constitution Day, the judge conducted actual court hearings in Herbster Chapel.

Students witnessed sentencings, change of plea hearings, community control violation hearings and reviews, among other cases. In between each, Shuff came out from behind the bench to engage them in conversation about the judicial process and about the individual cases.

Shuff told the students that “80 percent of my cases are drug-related offenses.” The large majority of that 80 percent are related to heroin and oxycontin. “That’s really bad stuff,” he said. “The first time you take heroin, you’re addicted. It’s that powerful. Now, we’ve got to handle the addiction … because you will steal, you will lie and you will cheat to get your next high.”

The recidivism rate the judge sees in narcotics cases is very high – about 50 percent. “If I win half the battles, I’m delighted … but 50 is an F in college. I realize the opponent I have.”

Shuff shared information with students about the difference between jail and prison, rehabilitation vs. punishment, the importance of jury duty and his process in deciding cases.

“Each case is different,” he said. “There are so many factors and I have to look at all of them. That’s what court does.”

Dr. Susan McCafferty organized the Court on Campus event.