On August 9, 2023, over fifty students from the City of Petersburg Special Events & Volunteerism group ranging in age from 8-14 were hosted by Judge Roger L. Gregory at the U.S Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Richmond, Virginia.
Kicking off the event, Judge Gregory’s law clerks introduced themselves and shared their reasons for attending law school. They answered a wide variety of enthusiastic questions about their jobs and how criminal cases move through the courts. Students also learned about other jobs and roles in the judiciary.
Judge Gregory joined in answering the students’ questions, then guided them through a presentation on the history of the 165-year-old courthouse and a 1905 Emancipation Day parade in Richmond. He inspired the students with profiles of trailblazing judges around the country from diverse backgrounds, and he described his own pathway to the bench and service as chief judge from 2016-2023. He also shared his experiences traveling to Mozambique and hosting a judicial delegation from Kenya.
He concluded with a quote from Samuel Johnson: “Our brightest blazes are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks.”
“Meaningful discourse with youths in the setting of civics education is a wonderful opportunity to inform and inspire,” said Judge Gregory.
Courts4Civics, an initiative by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, promotes civics education in our schools and communities, to create learning opportunities and to increase public understanding of how courts work to resolve disputes in our society and to protect our constitutional rights. To learn more about Courts4Civics activities and opportunities, visit www.ca4.uscourts.gov/C4C.