Constitution Day at Heidelberg

TIFFIN — The Honorable Judge Steve Shuff of the Seneca County Common Pleas Court moved his courtroom to Heidelberg University's Herbster Chapel last Tuesday, giving students a firsthand look at the justice system as part of the school's annual Constitution Day programming. Students had the opportunity to attend two open sessions, one in the morning and another in the afternoon, where real criminal hearings were conducted outside the walls of the Seneca County Justice Center. The proceedings ranged in scope, but all were authentic cases from the county's docket, offering students a rare opportunity to see the judicial process in action on their own campus. During the afternoon session, Michael Feasel, case number 25CR0105, changed his plea to guilty on 37 felony counts, including pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor and illegal use of a minor in a nudity-oriented performance. Between hearings, Shuff spoke with students about what they had witnessed and fielded questions about constitutional law. He also challenged attendees with questions on both the U.S. and Ohio constitutions, encouraging them to think about how the documents continue to shape the rights of defendants and the responsibilities of the court.