Civics News & Events

February 17-21, 2025

Many judges across the District of South Carolina participated in civic engagement efforts in their divisions as part of Courts4Civics Week, held during the week of Presidents’ Day 2025. Thanks to the efforts of those judges and staff, students across the state of South Carolina learned more about the judiciary and were able to interact firsthand with a federal judge.

Columbia

• Senior Judge Joe Anderson met with Richland Northeast High School’s Mock Trial team as part of the Courts4Civics program. During the meeting, the students practiced opening statements and direct/cross-examinations for an upcoming mock trial competition. Judge Anderson provided feedback and helped the students prepare for the competition. In addition, Judge Anderson discussed the federal court system, his judicial role, and took questions from students.Everyone had fun during this successful event.
• Senior Judge Cameron McGowan Currie participated in an event at Chapin Middle School. Students received case materials in advance, and Judge Currie and US Probation Deputy Chief Carroll discussed the case and answered questions.  The students were asked to reach a verdict and to arrive at a just sentence. The program was well received, and several students expressed an interest in pursuing careers in criminal justice and law.
• What role do federal courts play in our judicial system? Does our constitution protect the rights of non-US citizens? What does a typical day look like for a federal court judge? These are just a few of the topics the Magistrate Judge Shiva Hodges addressed when speaking to Heathwood Hall’s AP Government students. Judge Hodges also talked about the necessity of checks and balances within our government, the role the federal courts play in ensuring that takes place, and the importance of preserving individual civil liberties.
  
  

• Judge Sherri Lydon hosted 100 fourth-grade students from Irmo Elementary School for an interactive civics program.  In one courtroom, an FBI agent provided an inside look at investigations and performed a live demonstration of a polygraph test.  Meanwhile, Chief Federal Public Defender Bill Nettles led a mock trial, in which one particularly enthusiastic young judge sustained every defense objection. In another courtroom, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Elliott Daniels and Michale Shedd presented a case against the infamous Cruella de Vil.  Acting as jurors, the students carefully considered the evidence and ultimately found her guilty.

  The students also explored the critical role of the U.S. Marshals Service. They toured a cell block, learned about the responsibilities of marshals, and met Mam, the courthouse’s highly trained bomb-detection dog.

  Following a lunch break in the jury assembly room, the program concluded with a civil mock trial, where students once again took on the role of jurors, deliberating and delivering a verdict in the car wreck case of Dr. Robotnik versus Sonic the Hedgehog. This trial was presented by AUSAs Will Jordan and Todd Timmons. This engaging day of learning would not have been possible without the support of the Court Security Officers (CSOs), the Clerk’s Office staff—especially Billie Goodman, Karen Boston, Kameron Carpenter, and Jenn Peterson—and all participating attorneys, law enforcement officials, and court personnel. Mike Gorman and Kaycie Timmons, with Judge Lydon’s chambers, also contributed mightily. Their dedication helped bring the judicial system to life for these young students, fostering a deeper understanding of civic responsibility. And we are quite sure we have some budding young lawyers in the mix

Greenville

• Magistrate Judge William Brown hosted a “Just Ask a Judge” program at Powdersville High School. Judge Brown talked about the Constitution, the meaning of justice, the role of the jury, and why judges wear black robes. Although the students asked many questions (including “how many cases proceed to trial?” and “what does a typical day look like as a judge?”), the very first question he was asked was, “What is your favorite animal?”
  (Answer: grizzly bear)

• Magistrate Judge Kevin McDonald hosted undergraduate students from Clemson University majoring in criminal justice and political science at the Carroll A. Campbell, Jr.  Courthouse. The students arrived before court was scheduled for the day and received a tour of the courthouse. They then heard presentations in the courtroom from an AUSA, an AFPD, and a US Probation Officer.  The students observed three criminal hearings: one pre-trial conference and two initial appearances/arraignments, the second of these involving a detailed bond hearing. After the hearings concluded, the students were invited to sit within the bar at counsel tables and in the jury box.  Judge McDonald made remarks, as did the court reporter, the deputy clerk, a deputy US Marshal, and Judge McDonald’s pro se law clerk. The students then participated in a question/answer session, with students asking specific questions and making comments about the hearings they had just observed. One area of particular interest was drug counseling and treatment (a condition of a bond set in the earlier hearing), and the students were interested in the frequency of imposing such a condition, its effectiveness, the cost, and the court's handling of violations.


Also discussed was the difference and interplay between federal and state courts (the pre-trial conference involved an individual who also has pending state charges). The students asked career-related questions, including about Judge McDonald’s background, his path to becoming a magistrate judge, and his daily activities on the job. These same questions were asked of the AUSA, the AFPD and the Deputy Marshal. The students came away from the experience with a newfound appreciation for our system of justice and the roles and responsibilities of our courthouse family.

Charleston

• Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker hosted a group of middle school students from Buist Academy’s mock trial team at the federal courthouse in Charleston on February 18. The students were able to sit in various parts of the courtroom to learn and understand the different roles played during a proceeding. They also learned about the pathways to becoming a lawyer and a judge. The students asked lots of questions regarding Judge Baker’s time on the bench, heard stories from her career, and were able to see notable parts of the courthouse.
• Magistrate Judge Molly Cherry visited an honors United States government class at Burke High School in downtown Charleston. After learning more about the judicial branch, what a federal magistrate judge does, and the difference between civil and criminal cases, the students had lots of questions, including what Judge Cherry’s longest case was as an attorney, how a jury gets selected, and what the hardest parts of law school were. The students were able to apply what they have learned in class to gain a deeper understanding of the judicial branch.