Supreme Court Historical Society

Students finished their capstone project today and presented to the District and Magistrate Judges from the Southern District of Indiana. They did a truly fantastic job!!

That’s a wrap on the Supreme Court and My Hometown, Indianapolis!

The Supreme Court and My Hometown — Indianapolis Edition participants are having quite a week!

Yesterday they participated in a Federal Trial Panel discussion with Chief Probation Officer Dwight Wharton, Assistant Federal Defender Gwen Beitz, & U.S. Attorney Zachary Myers!

Today, they attended an oral argument at the Indiana Supreme Court and started working on their capstone project!

Great first day in Indianapolis —students got a superb overview of the federal court system & a deep dive of the First Amendment! Special thanks to Chief Judge Pratt for hosting our students & to Magistrate Judge Baker & ACLU Director Ken Falk for being today’s featured speakers!

The Supreme Court & My Hometown — Indianapolis edition launched this morning.

Stay tuned for more details.

Students finished their capstone projects today and presented them to federal court staff! They also received their Supreme Court History Scholar certificates from Judge Collier! It was a wonderful program! Can’t wait for the opening of the Hometowns exhibit at the District Court this Fall!

The exhibit will feature five panels that explain how the historic Ed Johnson case unfolded and the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision in United States v. Shipp (1909).

The Supreme Court and My Hometown — Chattanooga Edition:

Week Two is off to a great start! Yesterday the students explored how cases get to and move through the Supreme Court. Advocate Jeffrey Green zoomed in and shared how he became an appellate attorney and what it’s like to argue before the Court. Today students heard from Judge Collier’s law clerks about the Secret Service investigation into Ed Johnson’s lynching and Judge Atchley shared insights into U.S. v. Shipp (1909). Finally, Judge Collier talked about the impact of the Court’s decision on American criminal law and the justice system! Students are eager to start working on their capstone project!!

The Supreme Court and My Hometowns— Chattanooga editon:

Week One is in the books! This morning the Hometowns students learned about Noah Parden and Styles Hutchins, the black advocates who take over the appeal. AUSA Wilson and AFD Rust led the students through the state and federal appeals. Professor Deardorff and the Society’s Director of Civic Education Nicole Maffei did a newspaper analysis activity where the students examined the role of local newspapers during the Ed Johnson case. Finally, Peter Canellos zoomed in and spoke to the students about Justice Harlan and the Fuller Court!

Day 4, much like the others was FAB! We started with a field trip through the events and trial of Ed Johnson. The students were very moved seeing the sites. 

Retired Judge Neil Thomas (great nephew of WGM Thomas) then hosted us in his former courtroom with Kathy McCallie Gardner for a discussion through the criminal trial. The students asked incredibly insightful questions showing they’ve been studying in the evenings and talking with each other about the case. The kids are so great—they’re truly wonderful!!

Starting now— the Supreme Court Historical Society and Street Law sponsored Supreme Court Summer Institute.

Day Three was more about context, Rights of the Accused and Criminal Trials! Dr. Michelle Deardorff for taught about Ida B. Wells, Resistance and Resilience. LPC Linda Graham discussed the science of trauma, impact of generational trauma, and coping strategies. United States Attorney Trey Hamilton and Assistant Public Defender Eliza Williams guided the students through the 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments and the process of criminal trials. A massive thank you to all our expert speakers! You are appreciated!!

Today’s update: Today was all about building context for the historic Ed Johnson case! Thanks to Dr. Jackson from Covenant College for her insightful presentation about the realities of the Reconstruction Era and historic Chattanooga. We also went on a field trip to significant Chattanooga sites! Special thanks to Chief Judge McDonough, Judge Collier, Professor Deardorff of UTC, and Maranda Wilkinson from the Medal of Honor Heritage Center for their assistance with the field trip!

Day One of The Supreme Court and My Hometown, Chattanooga edition is a wrap.

We launched with: An Overview of the Federal and State Court systems and live court proceedings with Judge Collier (USDC) and Judge Greenholtz (TN Criminal Appeals)

Two weeks left to apply for the 2024 St. Louis Hometowns Program! New special guests Leslie Smart and Leanne Tippett along with Cathy Kuhlmeier!!!

Link in bio to register!

https://supremecourthistory.org/hometown-program-st-louis-mo/

Northern California Educators, Check out this informative 3 part series on Elections and the Courts! Immediately implementable civics content and strategies will be shared! We hope you will join us for one or all three sessions!

The Supreme Court and My Hometown is the national civics program of the Supreme Court Historical Society. This initiative engages high school students in a thorough study of the process and substantive issues of a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in a unique and personalized way. Participants will learn how the Judicial Branch interacts with the other two branches of government and their role and responsibilities as active citizens. Hometowns also encourages students to interact with their local government and community based on what they have learned in the study. A distinguishing feature of this program is the focus on Supreme Court cases that originated in the students’ hometowns and local courts. Both the Constitutional questions and procedural history of the cases will be explored through a local lens.

Registration for the Fall 2024 St. Louis cohort.

Link in bio.

The Supreme Court and My Hometown is the national civics program of the Supreme Court Historical Society. This initiative engages high school students in a thorough study of the process and substantive issues of a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States in a unique and personalized way. Participants will learn how the Judicial Branch interacts with the other two branches of government and their role and responsibilities as active citizens. Hometowns also encourages students to interact with their local government and community based on what they have learned in the study. A distinguishing feature of this program is the focus on Supreme Court cases that originated in the students’ hometowns and local courts. Both the Constitutional questions and procedural history of the cases will be explored through a local lens.

Registration for the Fall 2024 St. Louis cohort is now open. Link in bio.

The Society’s the Supreme Court and My Hometown is coming to Indianapolis and Chattanooga in June 2024.

It’s a free immersive Federal Court program for high school students (grades 9-11).

Applications are due March 1st. Apply today!

www.supremecourthistory.org

Congratulations to Kristi Letsinger of Nashville, Tennessee who won the Society’s Teaching the Supreme Court raffle prize at NCSS 2023.

Sandra Day O’Connor was a fierce supporter of the Society and Civic Education. She served as an honorary trustee from her retirement in 2006 until she stepped away from public life in 2018.

She will be deeply missed.

The Supreme Court Historical Society mourns the passing of Sandra Day O’Connor.

The pathbreaking first woman to serve on the Supreme Court will be deeply missed.

Join us at NCSS on Friday and Saturday for the debut of our new civics website.

Come visit our booth at and take a selfie with Chief Justice Warner Burger and Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall

Come see us at NCSS —booth 605!

https://conta.cc/479EiQp

The Society Celebrates American Education Week The Society Celebrates American Education Week The Society Celebrates American Education Week American Education Week began in 1921 to generate public support for education. Recently, numerous state a

https://conta.cc/3SwSRJA

https://conta.cc/40nvnIO

SCOTUS Scoops: Chief Justice Warren Burger Reconsiders the Bar Admission and Reading Opinions from the Bench Efficient and Humane: Chief Justice Warren Burger Reconsiders the Bar Admission and Reading Opinions from the Bench   Efficient and Humane: Chief Justice Warren Burger Reconsiders the Bar Admission an

https://conta.cc/46Jn784

Save the Dates: Strathmore Holiday Market Event — November 9-11, 2023 SCHS @ Strathmore Holiday Market Event   Save the Dates — Strathmore Holiday Market Event: November 9-11, 2023 Don't miss the Supreme Court Historical Society Gift Shop at the 34th Annual Museum Shop

https://conta.cc/3PVH9Fr

New Civics Resource: Barron v. Baltimore Case Summary Civics Resources for Teachers and Students   New Civics Resource: Barron v. Baltimore Case Summary The Society just added a new resource to our civics website, which formally launches on December 1st.

https://conta.cc/3LVz5U1

Breaking History: The Court-packing Plan of 1937 and Civil Rights Zach Jonas — The Court-packing Plan of 1937 and Civil Rights   Breaking History: The Court-packing Plan of 1937 and Civil Rights By Clare Cushman John P. Davis was the only Black witness to testify be