On April 7, 2026, the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia welcomed approximately 50 students from Cave Spring High School in Roanoke County for a Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions program. And on March 19, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia welcomed about 30 students from Alexandria City High School.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Roanoke
The participating students, primarily juniors and seniors, spent the day exploring constitutional principles, civic dialogue, and careers within the federal judiciary.
The program in Roanoke centered on a fictional scenario inspired by the Supreme Court’s seminal Fourth Amendment case New Jersey v. T.L.O., 469 U.S. 325 (1985), in which the Court held that school officials must have reasonable suspicion that a student has violated the law or school rules before searching the student’s property. Students participated in a mock suppression hearing, arguing whether vaping supplies should be admitted as evidence. While the program in Alexandria focused on a fictional scenario similar to Elonis v. United States, 575 U.S. 723 (2015), in which students considered whether a student’s social media post about another student qualified as a threat, and whether such a conclusion should be assessed under an objective or subjective standard.
The programs both began with a discussion on civility, during which students established ground rules for respectful dialogue. Participants then divided into their assigned roles as attorneys, judges and members of three advisory juries. Each group prepared for the oral argument simulation with guidance from a dedicated group of volunteer attorneys from the court and the local legal community.
EDVA Chief Bankruptcy Judge Brian Kenney
with students from Alexandria High School
In Roanoke, Chief District Judge Elizabeth K. Dillon and Magistrate Judge C. Kailani Memmer presided over the mock arguments, guiding the student judges and questioning the student attorneys. In Alexandria, Chief Bankruptcy Judge Brian Kenney presided over the mock hearing.
Following the hearings, groups of student juries, using the civil discourse ground rules, deliberated before announcing their verdicts. Student jurors explained how they navigated differing viewpoints to reach unanimous decisions. Notably, in Roanoke, three different groups of juries did not all reach the same verdict, highlighting the complexity of constitutional issues and the value of thoughtful civil discourse.
The program also introduced students to the wide range of careers within the federal court system. Volunteer attorneys, court and clerk’s office personnel, a Courtroom Security Officer, an Assistant United States Marshal, and representatives from the probation office shared insights into their professions and answered students’ questions. In Roanoke, District Judge Robert Ballou and Clerk of Court Laura Austin also participated in the career panel. Teachers and students later shared that the sessions broadened their understanding of the many ways individuals can serve the judiciary and the diverse paths that lead to those careers.
The Roanoke program was supported by the local chapter of the Federal Bar Association and the court’s Bench and Bar Fund. With their help, students received refreshments, pocket Constitutions, and patriotic keepsakes to commemorate their experience. In Alexandria, students received Courts4Civics vinyl stickers to remember the day.
The programs concluded on high notes, with teachers and students expressing their appreciation through heartfelt thank-you notes. Students described the event as “the best experience,” a “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity, “engaging,” and “meaningful.” One student noted that “TV attorneys are more violent with their arguments (for views). Real ones are much more civil.” Teachers have already requested to return with future classes, and many of the volunteer attorneys and courthouse participants also expressed how rewarding they found the experience.
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, Roanoke