On August 31, sixty educators attended a workshop sponsored by the Indiana Supreme Court in collaboration with the Indiana Historical Society. The workshop provided teachers, administrators, and one truancy officer with an opportunity to visit downtown Indianapolis and learn about the history and operation of the judicial branch.
Judges and lawyers nominated these educators for this professional development opportunity. Pendleton Town Court Judge George Gasparovic said: “I welcomed the rewarding opportunity to nominate interested educators to participate in this program. They will share with their students this first-hand experience of watching the judiciary in action. We received positive feedback from the participants who appreciated acquiring ‘real world’ knowledge of our state’s judicial operations.
The workshop included a presentation by Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law Professor Joel Schumm on preparing for and participating in an oral argument before the Supreme Court and Court of Appeals. Teachers also visited the Supreme Court Law Library, had a walking tour of the State House, and watched six-minute mini sessions explaining Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), the Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunity (ICLEO), the Court Interpreter Program, and data available on Supreme Court webpages.
Educators attended an oral argument and then joined Supreme Court Justices and Court of Appeals Judges for a luncheon in the State House atrium. Court Executives Judge Mary Willis, Jane Seigel, and Lilly Judson also attended the lunch and shared their perspectives on the judiciary.
Teachers spent the afternoon touring exhibits and learning about the resources offered at the Indiana Historical Society’s Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center. Becky Schlomann, Coordinator of Bicentennial Programs with the Department of Education and Community Engagement, introduced teachers to their You Are There exhibits, where they recreate a photo or other historic item in three dimensions.
Trained, costumed actors play real-life characters from that time and place. In You Are There 1816: Indiana Joins the Nation, teachers met delegates drafting Indiana’s constitution in the state’s first capital, Corydon. Ms. Schlomann commented: “After witnessing the present-day Supreme Court in action, teachers enjoyed talking with delegates as they debated the early foundations of our three-branch system of government.”
Educators in attendance gave positive grades to the day with 90% rating the overall experience as excellent.
“This was the best in-service event I have attended in twenty plus years of teaching.”
“I learned a great deal about the workings of the judicial system in Indiana, and found the experience to be very rewarding.”
“I will share what I saw and heard with my students, and my colleagues.”
The Court’s goal of educating the public about the judicial branch reached beyond those in attendance. Teachers at the workshop are responsible for the education of nearly ten thousand students.
Indiana Supreme Court staff assisted the Office of Communication, Education and Outreach with the presentations and logistics, including Yolanda Collins, Traci Cosby, Jeff Dunn, Angie James, Michelle Langdon, Teresa Lyles, Gary Miller, Dylan Pittman, Ashley Rozier, Kim Schwant, LaKesha Triggs, and Katie Utley.