On January 29, 2025, Magistrate Judge Kai Memmer hosted a Civil Discourse & Difficult Decisions program in Roanoke, Virginia. More than twenty high school students from North Cross School participated in the program.
Featuring a fictional scenario based on Tinker v. Des Moines, the program focused students on considering civility and on setting “ground rules” for their discussions of the legal issues involving the First Amendment. Students, who were advised by volunteer attorneys, played the roles of attorneys, judges, and jurors in a court simulation.
Volunteers assisting with the program included attorneys from the United States Attorney’s Office, the Federal Public Defender’s Office, and local practitioners who are members of local chapter of the Federal Bar Association (FBA). Chief District Judge Elizabeth K. Dillon and Judge Thomas T. Cullen participated in a question-and-answer session with the students. And many members of court staff, including several law clerks and Laura Austin, Clerk of the Western District of Virginia, assisted in the program.
After the event, volunteers and students reflected on the rewarding experience. One volunteer attorney commented that coaching the student attorneys had “refueled” his soul. Other attorney volunteers echoed similar sentiments. Judge Memmer agreed: “We thought we were coming solely to help the students but left inspired and energized” by the discussions with students about why civility is necessary in our society.
Court members of the Western District of Virginia hope to schedule several additional civics programs before the end of the school year. They are working with local FBA members to reach out to schools in the Roanoke area.
Courts4Civics would love to hear about any and all civics outreach conducted by judges across the Fourth Circuit. Send us an email at civics@ca4.uscourts.gov to obtain assistance with coordinating programs and to report your efforts in the community.