I'm trying to pre-empt my knowledge here.
What if the kid says yeah, he DID have a pocket knife in school, but it was in his knapsack, in his locker and discovered during a "random" search ... which is legal in Pennsylvania ?
The possession may be the violation, but the manner in which it was possessed and discovered is .. imo .. a lousy way to hook a kid into having some kind of punishment foisted upom him.
I would want the possession charge dropped BECAUSE of the manner in which it was learned.
Do I use the words "not guilty" with a great big long explanation (which would mean nothing as far as my wishes to nullify are concerned) or are there other, more legal words that a "juror" uses ?
Talking just jury duty here: “Not guilty” is all that is required.
If anyone asks “why”, it’s none of their business. I would be careful and NOT explain my thinking. It may tick them off, but that’s tough.