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Street Law / Newsroom / Supreme Court Institute teachers witness Walmart v. Dukes and Brown v. EMA decisions
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July 26, 2011 | Washington, DC
For the last two weeks of June, 60 social studies teachers representing 31 different states gathered in the nation’s capital to participate in the Supreme Court Summer Institute for Teachers. Conveniently held at Georgetown University Law Center near Capitol Hill, the Institute gave teachers the opportunity to learn, share, and experience the workings of the Supreme Court from right around the corner. In collaboration with the Supreme Court Historical Society, which sponsors the Institutes, Street Law, Inc. was able to offer the highest level of expertise from attorneys, academics, and journalists—who gave first-hand, informative, and even humorous accounts of their experiences with the Supreme Court and its cases.
For the first session of the Institute, many of the teachers came to Washington having just finished their school years, but this did not dampen their enthusiasm for six days of professional development about the Court. These thirty teachers received a warm welcome from top Supreme Court advocate and SCOTUSblog creator Tom Goldstein, who spoke about cases, the justices, and his experiences arguing in front of the Court. Teachers in the second session heard from advocate Lisa Blatt of Arnold & Porter, who shared her expertise, gained by arguing 30 cases at the Supreme Court (and winning 29 of them!). All the teachers began the week with a fantastic welcome dinner, hosted by Jones Day’s Washington office—which included a perfect view of the Capitol and downtown D.C.
Over the six days of each session of the Institute, participants experienced the Supreme Court from inside and out. Cynthia Rapp and Gary Kemp, deputy clerks at the Supreme Court, answered questions about how the Court functions and how last minute death penalty appeals are handled. Former law clerks to the justices spoke about their experiences “behind the scenes.” Workshops included complex discussions on teaching about the Commerce Clause and constitutional interpretation. Supreme Court reporters Lyle Denniston (SCOTUSblog) and Jess Bravin (Wall Street Journal) discussed coverage of the Supreme Court in the media and the efforts to make the Supreme Court accessible to a larger audience.
SCOTUSblog's Lyle Denniston sheds lights on how the media cover the Court and the challenges the Court presents for journalists.
Many of the workshops focused on how to teach students about important cases, including 5 cases from the current term. Teachers participated in a moot court of Graham v. Florida, which asked whether sentencing a minor to life without parole for a non-homicide crime was “cruel and unusual” punishment under the Eighth Amendment? Teachers were divided in groups of petitioners, respondents, and justices and were coached by expert attorneys. They then held the moot court in Georgetown Law Center’s exquisite moot courtroom, designed to look like the Supreme Court chamber.
The highlight for teachers was visiting the Supreme Court to hear decisions. On June 20, teachers heard four decisions come down, including Wal-Mart v. Dukes. Teachers witnessed Justice Scalia announce the decision, which shut down what would have been the largest civil rights class-action suit in U.S. history. On June 27, the last day of the Supreme Court’s term, teachers observed the decision in Brown v. EMA, in which the Court held that the California law banning the sale or rental of violent video games to minors was unconstitutional.
Decisions at the Court always bring a new burst of excitement as the week is winding down. On Monday, the participants enjoyed a final evening at a reception at the Supreme Court that included a few very special guests.
Each year Street Law makes available (for free!) all the educational materials used in the Institutes, including teaching strategies, lesson plans, and updated case studies that are ready for classroom use. New case materials for the 2011 sessions include the following:
Source: (Reproduced with permission)
Supreme Court Summer Institute for Teachers
Topic: U.S. Supreme Court
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