Increasing public understanding of the justice system is central to the mission of the American Judicature Society. As U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor (Ret.) noted in a recent article, “the long-term solution to the politicization of the judiciary process is education.”

Here you will find information about outstanding materials and innovative models for educational programs, updates about new and noteworthy efforts, and links to additional resources.  If your organization offers educational programs on the judiciary that should be considered for inclusion here, please contact us.
 

What's New in Public Education
Public Education and Outreach: Outstanding Models and Materials With funding from The Foundation for the Advancement of an Independent Judiciary and the Rule of Law, and with the assistance of an outstanding advisory committee of judges, attorneys, and educators, AJS has identified exemplary educational materials on the judicial branch and innovative models for presenting these materials.  These lesson plans and resources focus on the role of courts and judges, the relationship between the courts and the other two branches, the importance of judicial independence, and the right way to ensure judicial accountability. They include materials appropriate for elementary, middle, and high school students and adults.
Program Models	Program Materials by Topic	Program Materials by Age Group
High School Curriculum on the Judiciary AJS' High School Curriculum on the Judiciary is a two-lesson unit prepared for high-school seniors.  The first lesson, The Supreme Court, requires students to research and role play U.S. Supreme Court justices, act as their clerks, and develop arguments as opposing attorneys in a high school drug-testing case.  The second lesson, Court Procedure, presents a simulation game about a murder.  It requires students to role play witnesses, prosecuting and defense attorneys, detectives, CSI team members, jurors, a trial court judge, and other justice-system actors.  The lessons include a day planner, class notes, student handouts, and links to resources.  Development of this curriculum was funded by The Foundation for the Advancement of an Independent Judiciary and the Rule of Law. Judicial Outreach Programs Courts and judges across the country, often in cooperation with bar associations and civic organizations, engage in a variety of efforts to promote greater understanding of court processes and the role of the judiciary in our society.  AJS has identified a variety of these programs and provided links to exemplary ones.
Public Education Spotlight
Justice Case Files 2: The Case of Stolen Identity The National Center for State Courts has released the second volume in its series of graphic novels aimed at educating the public about how the justice system works. The Case of Stolen Identity focuses on one of the fastest-growing crimes in this country—identity theft. It is intended to promote a better understanding of how our courts protect our citizens. Click here to view past Public Education Spotlight programs.