Law-related Education: Courtroom to the Classroom main

From the courtroom to the classroom

A professional development program for secondary teachers about the Wisconsin Court system focusing on the Wisconsin Supreme Court

Why attend?
From the Courtroom to the Classroom Learn how to bring Wisconsin courts and the law to life for your students while interacting with educators, attorneys, judges, and Wisconsin Supreme Court justices.

Participants will learn:

Did you ever wonder why certain types of offenses end up in municipal court rather than circuit court? Participate in mini mock trials and find out how Wisconsin municipal courts handle different types of ordinance violations.
How to use the case study approach to help students understand the facts, issues, arguments, and Court's decision in a Wisconsin landmark case, State v. Mitchell.
What it's like to be a Supreme Court justice. The position carries great responsibility and power but imagine having six colleagues edit your every word. Hear from the Chief Justice about life on the Court and learn how she keeps her personal beliefs separate from her decisions in cases.
The toughest part of the trial judge's job: criminal sentencing. Become the judge in a sentencing exercise based on an actual case, and weigh the defendant's conduct and the victim's loss. Compare your decision with that of a judge who decides daily whether a defendant's actions merit prison.
How the Supreme Court sifts through the 1,000 petitions filed each year to choose the approximately 100 cases it will hear. Review real petitions, follow the criteria you will be given, and see if you can spot the cases that our state Supreme Court accepted.
Americans turn to courts to resolve disputes in a peaceful and orderly manner. Learn how to use significant primary and secondary resources on the role of courts in the American and Wisconsin political system.
Who owns our garbage after we take it outside? Garbage! Among the food scraps and coffee grounds, we discard many items that contain personal information. Participate in a moot court and find out what the Wisconsin Supreme Court said on this fascinating case.

Register on-line no later than January 31, 2008!

Featured Presenters:
Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson of the Wisconsin Supreme Court will be a featured presenter along with University of Wisconsin - Madison Professor, Diana Hess. Other justices of the Wisconsin Supreme Court will also participate as well as attorneys, teachers, and circuit court and municipal court judges from around the state.

What:
A two and a half day conference that will give 30 public and private secondary social studies teachers new tools to teach about the Wisconsin Supreme Court - including:

intearactive teaching strategies
curriculum with innovative teaching materials - Web-based and traditional

Where:
State Bar of Wisconsin, 5302 Eastpark Boulevard, Madison, WI
(lodging expenses at a nearby hotel will be reimbursed to those participants whose travel exceeds 60 miles one way)

When:
Thursday, March 6, 2008 (beginning at 12:30 pm) through Saturday, March 8, 2008 (ending at 3:30 p.m.)
(teachers must commit to attend entire conference to be eligible)

Cost:
A registration fee of $50 is required to help cover the cost of lodging, most meals, breaks, and materials. If you need to be reimbursed for a substitute teacher as a condition for your participation, or if you have questions about the conference, please contact Dee Runaas at (608) 250-6191 or by email at drunaas@wisbar.org. Teachers will be notified of their acceptance for the program at least one month in advance.

Past attendees had this to say about the institute

"I came away from the institute with materials and activities that I can use in my classroom immediately."
Brian Root - Oregon High School

"Due to time constraints, the Wisconsin judicial system gets slighted. I now have a thorough understanding of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and I will definitely place more emphasis on it."
Nathan Vance - Oak Creek High School

"This institute was the most useful staff development program I have ever participated in - great resource people. Keep up the good work!"
Lea Hansen-George - Viroqua High School

"The greatest part of the institute was learning more about the municipal courts. Thsi is the most used court by citizens but the court that the least is known about. Thank you for the resources I can use in my classroom!"
Tom Noonan - Marquette University High School

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