Puerto Rico
The Society partnered with the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico to bring 56 high school students from 15 different high schools in the greater San Juan area into their federal courthouse over the course of two one-week summer programs. Over the course of each five-day program, the students did an intensive study of the Judicial Branch through the lens of Examining Board v. Flores de Otero, a local federalism case that made its way to the Supreme Court in 1976. During the program, the students learned from:
- 9 Federal and Commonwealth Judges including Chief Judge Arias-Marxuach and former Chief Judge Aida Delgado
- Members of the US Attorneys Office and the Office of the Federal Defender
- 20 different local attorneys and law clerks
- Supreme Court Advocate and former Law Clerk to Justice Sotomayor, Jeremy Marwell, a trustee of the Society
- Numerous other members of the federal court staff from the pre-trial & probation, federal defender, U.S. attorney, U.S. Marshal, and District Clerk offices
Hometowns Scholars participated in a Moot Court with assistance from District Court Law Clerks, local private attorneys, and District Judge Gina Méndez-Miró and Magistrate Judge Mariana Bauza who served as the Chief Justice for each moot. Students also had the unique opportunity to learn about a local legal pioneer, Justice Miriam Naveria Merly, who was the first Puerto Rican woman to argue before the Supreme Court of the United States and the first woman to serve as Associate and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico.
This program proved to be an excellent experience for my development in areas such as public speaking, critical thinking, and teamwork. I was able to meet new people and learn in ways that were both interactive and educational. Programs like these are amazing for students who seek future careers in law, government, or just want to obtain new valuable knowledge in a supportive and challenging environment. -Enrique M., Puerto Rico 2025
As their capstone activity, students created a five-panel exhibit that will be displayed in each of the U.S. District Courthouses—the historic courthouse in Old San Juan and the newer courthouse in Hato Rey. Each panel summarizes their new learning and the impact Examining Board v. Flores de Otero has on their community and the United States. A formal opening of the exhibit is scheduled for the fall. Special thanks to Society Trustee Nestor Gomez for helping to make this program possible!
Montgomery
“I loved learning about the intricate details about federal courts like rational basis vs. strict scrutiny. Getting the opportunity to learn more about what a judge does and what a case looks like in real life was also very interesting.”
-Maryam K., Montgomery 2025
In July, 28 students from Alabama (and Georgia) gathered in Montgomery at the historic Frank M. Johnson Jr. federal courthouse to immerse themselves in the study of the Judicial Branch through the lens of local landmark Supreme Court case Frontiero v. Richardson. Together with the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Alabama and the Frank M. Johnson Jr. Institute, the Society delivered a deep dive into the federal court system that allowed students to increase their understanding of their government and their role as active citizens. Over the course of the program, the Hometowns scholars learned from and engaged with:
- Sharron (Frontiero) Cohen, named plaintiff, and her attorney, Joe Levin
- The Honorable Keith Watkins and the Honorable Myron Thompson
- Local experts and historians including Lt Col Rachel Seablom ASAF, Professor Mike Deboer, and Professor and Society Member Steve Brown
- Members of the Federal Defender, U.S. Attorney, and Federal Probation Offices
- Law Clerks and local Attorneys
- Johnson Institute Educators and Staff, including Thomas Rains and Debbie Long
One of the highlights of the program was a student-led civil discourse session on equal rights and the Constitution. By the end of the program, the scholars were knowledgeable about discussing rational basis v. strict scrutiny, the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, and the federal court system.
“The most valuable pieces of knowledge I learned were the deeper meanings of the 5th and 14th Amendments. Before, I felt like I had only scratched the surface on what those amendments really mean, and now I truly understand all parts of them.”
-Abby A., Montgomery 2025
To showcase the depth of their new learning, the Hometowns scholars produced a five-panel museum exhibit which will be displayed in the federal courthouse. The exhibit explores the federal judicial system, the historical context of the case, the trial and appeal, as well as a panel on the notable legal figures of the case: Joe Levin, Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr, and then professor, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The exhibit opening is planned for late autumn of this year.
St. Paul
The newest Civics team member, Jamie Higgins Shaull, travelled to St. Paul, Minnesota to facilitate the first of two Hometowns programs in the Twin Cities. Thanks to the support of the Annenberg Foundation, the Society and the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota brought 29 high school students to the federal courthouse to learn about the landmark Freedom of the Press case Near v. Minnesota (1931). From July 21-25, 2025, the students investigated the Prohibition Era and Judicial Branch through the lens of the First Amendment case. During the program, the students learned from:
- Assistant Ramsey County Attorneys, Chief Judge Sara Grewing of the Minnesota Second Judicial District, and Judge Diane Bratvold of the Minnesota Court of Appeals
- Six U.S. District Court judges including Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz
- Five different local attorneys, including U.S. Federal Defender Katherian Roe
- Senior Judge John Guthmann, who was the research assistant to Fred W. Friendly, the author of the seminal book Minnesota Rag: The Dramatic Story of the Landmark Supreme Court Case That Gave New Meaning to Freedom of the Press
- Numerous other members of the federal court staff from the pre-trial & probation, federal defender, U.S. attorney, U.S. Marshal, and District Clerk offices
Students had the unique opportunity to attend a live court proceeding in Magistrate Judge Elsa Bullard’s courtroom and participate in a question and answer session with Magistrate Judge Bullard and Magistrate Judge Doug Micko. Students also visited the Landmark Center where many Prohibition era court cases took place, toured the Minnesota Judicial Center with Judge Bratvold, and watched a Court of Appeals argument in State v. Ashley. Some scholars participated in a private tour of the Wabasha Street Caves and learned about St. Paul’s prohibition era.
“Hometowns had a wide variety of students from different parts of the area and allowed us to create connections – which I believe is really vital in the law field – you can dip your toes into the amazing world of law. On day 1 I said “Wow. How am I going to get to know all of these things?” and by day 5 I felt as if I could go teach my friends about the judicial system. That’s how easy it is to learn and I think the program did a great job of creating that want-to-learn atmosphere.”
– London O., St. Paul 2025
For their capstone activity, students created a six-panel exhibit that will be displayed in the Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse. Each panel summarizes their new learning and the impact Near v. Minnesota has had on their community and the United States. A formal opening of the exhibit is scheduled for Constitution Day, Wednesday September 17, 2025 at the Justice and Democracy Center in St. Paul. We look forward to July 2026, when we will return to the Twin Cities to provide the Hometowns program to more students!