Milwaukee judge keeps kids out of court, in the classroom with new summer program

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A Milwaukee judge is drawing on his own personal and professional experience to help middle school students discover what they want to be when they grow up.

"When someone asked me, 'What do you want to be for a living?' I said I wanted to be a football player or a basketball player, because that's all I knew, and so, the kids and I see in court, same way," City of Milwaukee Municipal Court Judge Derek Mosley said.

The MEDAL Program, created in 2022, introduces students to five career fields over the time span of one week: medical, engineering, dental, architecture and law.

"That's what I'm trying to do, immerse them into different fields," Mosley said. "I figure if I can get them here doing this, I won't see them in front of me in court."

Mosley is leading the program on his own. Each day he takes the students to a different educational institution where they complete a hands-on activity, while also learning the steps needed to become a professional in that field.

"They wear white jackets at the Medical College, so they feel like doctors. They're filling a tooth here at the dental school," Mosley said.

The program visited the Marquette School of Dentistry on Wednesday, July 20.

"We are doing like a mold. So, what they do for teeth, but we're doing it with our thumbs," Madison Cotton said.

Cotton is a soon-to-be eighth grader who is still figuring out what she wants to do when she grows up.

After this week, she might have a better idea.

"We get to dip our toes in all of these great career options," Cotton said.

Mosley said he's impressed by the students and the experience they're getting.

"These kids are taking their summer to learn and I love it," Mosley said.

This is the inaugural year for the MEDAL Program, but Mosley plans to continue it in the future.

Interested students and parents can reach out about openings for next summer by emailing: [email protected].