It was an emotional day in courtroom C-10 of DC Superior Court Wednesday as graduates of the court’s drug intervention classes participated in the court’s annual commencement ceremony.

Acting US Attorney Vincent Cohen Jr., DC Attorney General Karl A. Racine, several DC Superior Court judges and officials greeted the nine graduates. After the five men and four women received their diplomas, Cohen pulled out a court file and announced that each of their drug cases were dismissed.

“Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Live it well,” Judge Gregory E. Jackson told the graduates.

With family members and friends of the graduates filling the seats to cheer on their loved ones, the courtroom sounded more like a high school or college graduation.