On July 23, 2024, Courts4Civics partnered with the John Marshall Center at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture to host a day-long Teacher Institute in Richmond, “Civics & the Judiciary.” At this inaugural event, 18
teacher-participants spent the morning at the museum touring and learning from Caroline Legros, Manager of Civics Education at the John Marshall Center and from Professor Henry Chambers, Jr., of the University of Richmond School of Law. Most
teachers were from the Richmond-area, but several traveled from further locations including southern West Virginia and northern Virginia. The Institute was held in conjunction with the John Marshall Center’s new “Civics Connects”
program, an initiative for Virginia teachers that includes lesson plans
and activities to aid in delivering content aligned with state and
national civics education standards.
In the afternoon, the teachers visited the Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Courthouse in Richmond. They participated in a tour and a discussion with a panel of judges in a courtroom. The panel of judges included Judge Roger L. Gregory and Judge Barbara
Milano Keenan from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and Judge John A. Gibney, Jr. from the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Talking with teachers about their roles in and paths to the judiciary, the judges
also shared stories and personal experiences and addressed questions posed by the teachers. Many members of the Fourth Circuit staff and interns from the Court of Appeals of Virginia joined the group for the judges’ panel discussion.
Judge
Keenan, the moderator of the panel and Courts4Civics Chair, stated that “teachers play a vital role in educating future generations about civics, so as judges we appreciate the opportunity to connect with teachers and to share our sincere appreciation
for their important and difficult work.
Participants surveyed overwhelmingly enjoyed the Institute. One teacher found most valuable the “place-based learning” environment and the “willingness of judges” to engage “openly” with the participants. Legros stated that she is “delighted by the success of the Institute. The program served as a rare opportunity for classroom educators to engage in discussion with civics experts, legal scholars and prominent members of the judiciary; teachers are clamoring for content like this!”
If you
have hosted a teacher-event in your courthouse or would like assistance in hosting such an event, please reach out to the Courts4Civics committee at civics@ca4.uscourts.gov.