By Gracie Morgan
The Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute successfully hosted its final summer Scholars Conference for 2023 on July 11-13. From each state within the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, middle and high school-level educators traveled to the Frank Johnson Jr. Federal Courthouse in Montgomery for the multi-day conference.
The Johnson Institute’s Scholars Conference is part of an ongoing effort to provide educators with free-of-charge civics education professional development by studying the role of the U.S. Constitution through historic court cases.
With the help of judges, attorneys, and other volunteers from the Middle District of Alabama, teachers participated in immersive lessons about the U.S. Constitution, independent judiciary, and landmark cases from the Civil Rights era. Summer interns from the high school, college, and law school levels assisted with making the conference a success.
The three-day program kicked off with an overview of the court system and appeals followed by classes on the “anatomy” of criminal and civil cases. The conference proceeded with a Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions workshop that included volunteer attorneys and a mock federal court hearing. The teachers heard from legal experts and learned firsthand from professionals in the field.
The teachers delved into historic court cases with Senior District Judge Keith Watkins, a charter member of the Johnson Institute board who assisted in the planning of the conference. Among other cases, the teachers learned about Browder v. Gayle, the federal lawsuit related to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and Williams v. Wallace, the suit that authorized the 1965 Selma March. After learning the history of some of these prominent cases, the teachers visited historic sites around Montgomery, broadening their understanding of American history.
The final day of the conference included attending an actual sentencing in the U.S. District Court with Senior District Judge Myron Thompson. Prior to the sentencing, Judge Watkins walked the group through what they would see, and the prosecuting and defense attorneys discussed their roles. After the sentencing, Judge Thompson spoke with the group about being a judge and shared his own memories of Judge Johnson.
Teachers left the conference with a plethora of classroom resources and teaching strategies that allow them to provide their students with a unique and informative educational experience.
The Johnson Institute will host the Scholars Conference again next summer. Middle and high school teachers interested in attending the 2024 conferences and keeping up with the Johnson Institute may sign up to receive email updates from the Johnson Institute regarding future dates, events, and news.
