Judicial Outreach Programs

Court Visits
A number of states have programs through which students visit courthouses, sit in on trials or appellate arguments, and meet with judges. Outstanding examples of these types of programs include Court with Class, Judge for a Day (PDF), and Open Doors to Federal Courts. 

Internships
Some courts offer summer internships to give students firsthand experience with courts and the legal system. Two model internship programs are Courts Are Us and Judicial Youth Corps. 

Judges in the Classroom
Through these programs, judges use prepared lesson plans to teach students about the court system. Model judges-in-the-classroom programs are provided by the Constitutional Rights Foundation, the John Marshall Foundation, and the Washington Courts.

Off-Site Courts
In some states, appellate courts travel to local schools to hold oral arguments, providing a unique opportunity for students and members of the community to see the judicial process in action. Noteworthy off-site courts programs include Appealing to the Public, Courts in the Community, On the Road, and the Off-Site Court Program. 

Speakers’ Bureaus
Courts in many states provide speakers' bureaus through which audiences—including civic groups, social organizations, professional associations, schools—are matched with judges who speak to them on topics of interest. Model speakers' bureaus are offered by the Connecticut Judicial Branch, the Maryland Judiciary (PDF), and the Superior Court of Orange County (PDF). 

Teachers’ Institutes
Several states offer teachers’ institutes to promote better understanding among educators of the role of courts and judges. Examples of such programs are found in Florida, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.