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MENUMENU
  • About Us
    • Our Mission
    • Board and Officers
    • Teacher Advisory Council
    • Supporters
    • The Courthouse
    • The Federal Courts
  • How to Visit
    • Location, Hours & Parking
    • Photo Gallery Tour
    • Schedule a Tour
  • Our Programs
    • Summer Teacher Institute
    • Citizenship in the Nation for Scouts
    • Spring Art Competition
    • Tinker v. Des Moines Exhibit
    • Program Photos
  • Transportation Grants
  • Student Center
    • Bill of Rights Day 2024 Contest
    • Student Center Landing Page
    • The Role of the Federal Courts
    • Organization of the Federal Courts
    • How Courts Work
    • Landmark Cases
    • Tinker v. Des Moines Exhibit
    • Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier Online Exhibit
  • Educator Center
    • Summer Teacher Institute
    • Educator Center Main Page
    • Tinker v. Des Moines Exhibit
    • Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier Online Exhibit
    • Online Learning Resources
    • Comparing State and Federal Courts
    • Law Day 2025
  • Contact
  • Calendar

How the Federal Courts Work

 

How Courts Work will take you and your students step-by-step through the judicial process of the federal courts.  From the types of cases, to the key players, to the courtroom itself, you’ll have everything you need to be thinking like the judge and jury.

Federal courts are here to interpret and apply the laws of the United States.  This includes determining guilt or innocence in criminal trials, as well as assigning appropriate punishment to those who are found guilty.  It also includes settling disputes between citizens that they can’t resolve on their own.  Each case proceeds through the court system in a consistent and orderly manner, allowing for both sides to be treated equally and fairly.

The student material for How Courts Work can be found in our Online Student Center.

 

Lesson Plans for How Courts Work:

Types of Court Cases
Use this section to teach about the difference between criminal and civil cases, and to find out which would be heard in federal court.  This lesson plan guides students through an evaluation of legal issues from well-known newspapers.
Lessons Plans:
"Understanding the Types of Cases"                     Grades 6-12
The Players in the Courtroom
Use this section to introduce your students to the various players in a federal case.  This also serves as an excellent resource for career exploration activities, and a careers webquest is included.
Lessons Plans:

COMING SOON...please check back!

The Judge and The Jury
Use this section to help students gain a deeper understanding of the right to trial by jury.  The lesson plans will also help you introduce the civic responsibility of jury duty by guiding students through the materials given to citizens called for federal jury duty.
Lessons Plans:
"Trial By Jury"                    Grades 6-12
Getting Ready for Trial
Use this section to understand what happens in the time leading up to a federal trial, and the possibility to settle the dispute during this pretrial phase.  In this activity, students will evaluate the pros and cons of various methods of settling disputes.
Lessons Plans:

COMING SOON...please check back!

Your Day in Court
Use this section to help students gain a deeper understanding of the criminal justice system.
Lessons Plans:
"Criminal Justice"                    Grades 6-12
The Appeal Process
Use this section to forge a deeper understanding of what makes an appellate case different, and how it works its way through the levels of the federal courts.  The material found at Organization of the Federal Courts and Landmark Cases may also be helpful.
Lessons Plans:

COMING SOON...please check back!

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