Three judges on the Colorado Court of Appeals took their show on the road Monday, listening to oral arguments in two cases.

The venue was unusual: the auditorium of Mitchell High School.

Judges Alan Loeb, Richard L. Gabriel and Stephanie Dunn were certainly attentive.

But so were scores of Mitchell students from government, constitutional law, and other classes who saw the justice system close up.

This was no mock trial. It was the real thing.

It was part of the Courts in the Community program started in 1986 by the Colorado Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. Every year the judges visit a couple of schools to show how disputes are resolved.

Amy Sanchez-Martinez, a Mitchell master teacher, said the students spent four class sessions studying the cases and court procedure. “They will remember this because they have experienced it,” she said.

The students took copious notes. They seemed enraptured. (OK, a few leaned back in their seats and closed their eyes. But we suppose attorneys are used to that from jurors in lower court cases.)

During a break between cases, the students got to grill the attorneys, asking questions such as how they decide what evidence to present. (Answer: It’s more what evidence NOT to present.)

In Sackel v. Comcast Cable Communications, the plaintiff’s attorney was asking the appeals court to review a trial judge’s decision to dismiss a wrongful termination case.

It could be weeks before the judges render a decision.

But students had their own idea. “I think Comcast presented more facts,” said Morgan Cisna, 17.

Hannah Longstreth, 16, wants to put the experience to practice. “I got some tips on how I can argue in a professional manner with my parents.”