Federal Court Welcomes San Diego Area Teachers

The Southern District of California recently held its first teacher institute, inviting more than two dozen San Diego area educators to the Edward J. Schwartz Federal Building and United States Courthouse for a day-long workshop focusing on understanding the judicial branch and the work of the courts.

The “Court Connection” program included presentations by Senior District Judge Jeffrey T. Miller, District Judge Janis L. Sammartino and District Court Clerk Sam Hamrick. Judge Miller’s judicial assistant, Kathleen McMahon-Walford, helped organize the program and served as liaison to the San Diego Unified School District. The teachers were recruited by the school district’s social studies coordinator, Matt Hayes.

The visiting teachers were able to observe actual sentencing hearings before Judge Sammartino and participated in a mock trial before Judge Miller. They also learned about voir dire and available civics education resources.



Teachers participated in the Court Connection program to learn about the federal judicial system.

Central District 2012 Teachers’ Institute

The use of technology brought 30 Los Angeles-area high school teachers and 20 D.C.-area high school teachers together for an interactive civics lesson without having to leave their respective courthouses.  The Central District of California, celebrated its 11th annual Teachers' Institute on October 23, 2012, by participating in a video conference hosted by the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.  The government, civics, and history teachers deepened their knowledge of the federal courts and learned innovative ways of teaching about the  judiciary.  District Judge Richard J. Leon of the D.C. District headlined the event with a judicial overview and a joint question-and-answer session.  Constitutional scholar Robert S. Peck, who is affiliated with the Center for the Constitution at James Madison's Montpelier, involved the teachers by demonstrating how to use the Socratic method to teach Supreme Court precedents and apply them to contemporary issues.

High school teachers from Los Angeles and District of Columbia convene for an interactive civics lesson.

New Community Outreach Effort in Full Swing in Western Washington



Ninth Circuit Judge Richard Tallman

speaks with teachers

The United States District Court for the Western District of Washington, which has courthouses in Seattle and Tacoma, established a community outreach committee in 2011.  The committee has set about establishing collaborative relationships with local bar associations and law schools and retained the services of a noted attorney-educator to help design outreach programs.  The committee also is contributing to the development of the court’s new Internet website, which is scheduled to launch in the fall of 2012.



Teachers chat with District Judge

Robert Lasnik

So far, the committee’s efforts are focused on educating educators about the law and role of the judiciary. The court held a Judicial Institute for High School on June 27-29, 2012, and an iCivics Institute for Middle and Junior High School Teachers on July 18-20, 2012, both at the federal courthouse in Seattle.  Some 60 teachers from the western half of the state participated in the programs.  The court used funds collected from attorney admissions fees to reimburse attendees for lodging and travel expenses.  There was no charge for the programs, and teachers earned continuing education credits.

The Judicial Academy helped teachers to better understand the U.S. Constitution, the federal and state judiciaries, and federal issues including immigration, federal criminal law and civil rights.  The program for middle and junior high school teachers focused on how to make use of the iCivics program started by retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, which is available online at http://www.icivics.org/.

The court is planning its first Constitution Day event with programs in Tacoma on September 17, 2012, and Seattle on September 19, 2012.  Both programs will bring fourth- and fifth-grade students to the courthouse for a tour, a mock trial sponsored by the Federal Bar Association, and a visit with a judge.  The committee also has worked with the FBA to establish a Federal Civil Rights Legal Clinic, open one day per week in Seattle.

The committee is being aided by Margaret Fisher, an attorney with over 30 years of full-time experience educating the public in the law.  She is currently a Distinguished Practitioner in Residence at the Seattle University School of Law and works part-time for the Washington State Administrative Office of the Courts to develop programs and curricula for the judiciary to educate the public in the law.  She is also the Washington State coordinator for the iCivics program.

For questions the Western District of Washington outreach programs, please contact:

Bill McCool

District Court Executive/Clerk of Court

U.S. District Court

Western District of Washington

(206) 370-8430

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