The right of a fair trial by a jury of one’s peers has taken on new meaning with the creation of Canyons District’s Peer Court. Peer courts, also known as youth or teen courts, are a diversion program where youth charged with minor offenses, such as vandalism or fighting, agree to come before a sentencing panel of their peers. Peer Court sentencing is geared toward holding students accountable for righting wrongs, repairing harms and restoring relationships. As an alternative to automatic expulsion, suspension, or referral to juvenile court, this type of sentencing aims to keep students connected to their school, to the caring adults who work there, and to their peers. The Canyons Peer Court will be the second in Utah sponsored by a school district and will hear its first cases this fall. We recently met some of the students who will be serving on the inaugural court panel during a training where they learned about the importance of their role and three important pillars of justice: empathy, compassion and equity.