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LEWISTOWN -- Most teenagers don't talk about judges and courtrooms - not at home, not with their friends, unless they're watching syndicated episodes of "Judge Judy."
And not even at school unless it's in class.
Mifflin County Christian Academy history teacher Shane Harpster tried to spark his students' interest on Thursday, inviting Mifflin County Common Court of Common Pleas Judge Jonathan Reed to speak to his American Government class.
Reed's mission: Inspire a classroom of 16 junior and senior students about the local judiciary system.
"He came because we have been studying the judicial system in America," Harpster explained. "He came and talked about the judicial system in Mifflin County and Pennsylvania as a whole.
"The students had prepared some questions and some asked questions about what he talked about locally," he added.
Harpster also said school textbooks only focus on the judiciary system at the federal level.
"A lot of young people don't know how things work locally," Harpster said. "He focused a lot on what we have here in Mifflin County."
Reed, who was recently sworn in as Court of Common Pleas judge in early January, shared the responsibilities of his newly elected position with the students. While much of his time - nearly an hour - was dedicated to talking to the older students, Reed also spoke with ninth- and 10th-graders in Harpster's history class in the prior session.
"It was nice what he did for us," Harpster said. "He was very generous with his time. He's very, very busy because he's trying to learn his new position."
Reed had presided as magisterial district judge over Derry and Decatur townships and Burnham and Lewistown boroughs since 2016. "I have taken my duties and responsibilities as a full-time magisterial district judge very seriously and look forward to the opportunity to do the same as a common pleas judge," Reed wrote in his campaign announcement in January 2023.
Prior to being elected to the office of magisterial district judge, Reed served as an attorney in the local judicial system in a variety of capacities. He also worked as a judicial law clerk for the Mifflin County Court of Common Pleas, served as a mental health hearing review officer for the Mifflin County Court of Common Pleas and has presided as a master over the Mifflin County Court of Common Pleas Juvenile and Adult Treatment Courts.
Harpster believes Reed's appearance might change a few of his students' opinions about the judicial system. "They definitely did," he said, referring to the enthusiasm the students displayed when Harpster announced Reed's appearance.
"A lot of these kids really perked up when I told them Judge Reed was coming in and speaking," he added. "They were very forthright with their questions. They all seemed very, very interested in it."
Harpster said this isn't the first time that Reed has visited one of his classes. His last appearance was several years ago.
Reed is hoping to further educate students by hosting in his courtroom.
"He's trying to get us in to see a court case in action," Harpster sai