By Taylor Armstrong
This fall, the Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr. Institute held its first Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions, or “CD3,” workshops for high school students.
CD3 was developed by the federal courts and aims to bring young people into federal courthouses to teach them about the legal system. Students engage in legal proceedings and discussions relevant to situations youth may find themselves in. Participants learn valuable lessons about civil discourse and how their decisions can affect their lives. Due to COVID-19, this round of CD3 workshops was conducted virtually. Despite this, participants remained dedicated and proactive.
During this round of CD3 workshops, students participated in a fictional court case regarding the First Amendment’s right to free speech and how it relates to threats made on social media. Volunteer attorneys coached the students to help them prepare before they spoke in front of a volunteer judge from the Middle District of Alabama. Some students represented the government, while others represented the defendant. This activity taught students the constitutionality of prosecuting statements made on social media. Students also learned about other laws that can affect young people as they navigate their lives and how their decisions could affect their future.
Dr. Elizabeth Bowles, a law teacher at Booker T. Washington Magnet High School in Montgomery had her students participate in the workshop. She commented on the activity, stating “It was a valuable experience for students to learn about civil discourse, constitutional law, and legal careers. Students were able to meet attorneys and hear their ideas and thought processes.”
Taylor Armstrong is an intern with the Johnson Institute.