For the high schoolers in your lives: Learn about the workings of the federal judiciary *from* the federal judiciary

Look: I don't care how you acquire your news and information in the present age. I don't care what silo or tribe in which you claim membership. Surely, wherever you stand on the burning questions of the day, you must agree that some people are in desperate need of civics education. If you're honest about it (and I promise I won't tell) you might even concede that some of the folks who seem to agree with your position on every issue, or nearly every issue, could do with a little remedial civics education themselves. Maybe even a lot.

How did we get this way?

A lot of our friends and neighbors, and even many of our relations, never really got exposed to civics. In order to prevent fisticuffs from breaking out amongst the readers, we will defer to a different day any discussion of why this may be so. The point is that we should embrace opportunities to properly educate the next generation when such opportunities present themselves.

Therefore, if you are the parent or grandparent of one or more high school children (current freshmen, sophomores, or juniors), please take note: The Supreme Court Historical Society, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and the ABA’s Division for Public Education have announced a "Supreme Court and My Hometown" program to be held in Chicago, Illinois during the 2025 fall semester (when those aforementioned children or grandchildren will be sophomores, juniors, or seniors). This immersive federal court experience is FREE for high school students. A two-day orientation will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on July 22 and 23, 2025. The rest of the sessions will take place on select Thursdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. All program sessions will take place at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse, 219 South Dearborn Street.

Throughout the program, students will explore the judicial branch through the lens of a local case, Escobedo v. Illinois (1964). They will engage with federal and state judges, attorneys, historians, professors, and community members to investigate the case and gain an in-depth understanding of how it moved through the state and federal court system. As a culminating activity, the students will create a unique capstone project to educate their community about the impact of the case and the federal court system.

All current grade 9 to 11 students are eligible to apply. Students are responsible for obtaining a letter of recommendation from a teacher, local educator, or community member who can speak to their academic and personal qualifications. Applications and letters of recommendation are due by May 9, 2025.

For more information, and to apply, visit https://supremecourthistory.org/hometown-program-chicago-il/. Questions about the program can be directed to Juliet Morris at jmorris@supremecourthistory.org.