Scouts On the Bench

June 21, 2024

by Program Coordinator

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, Inside Government

On June 21, six Juniors from Troop 769 arrived at the Thomas F. Eagleton Courthouse ready to earn their “Go Inside Government” patch. Little did they know that by the end of the day four of them would be in an Eighth Circuit Appellate courtroom arguing a First Amendment case. Two of them were delighted to find themselves elevated to the Bench and tasked with issuing an opinion!

Six Girl Scouts listening to adult woman with blond hair and black-framed glasses.

Exploring the Tinker v. Des Moines exhibit with Rachel Marshall, Director of Civics Education

During the morning, the Scouts learned about Judicial Branch when they met the Honorable Sarah E. Pitlyk, federal judge for the Eastern District of Missouri. They also learned about careers in the courts from three law clerks and a United States Probation Officer. Over lunch, they examined what it means to be informed and involved in their community. They visited the Tinker Exhibit in the Judicial Learning Center and looked at local news stories. They learned about Mary Beth Tinker’s armband protest of the Vietnam War and her First Amendment case that went all the way to the United States Supreme Court. Then they made some informative posters of their own.

Two Girl Scouts writing with adult woman with tan and white sweater.

Junior attorneys for City of Ladue preparing arguments with mentor Sona Patel.

With that background knowledge, the Juniors worked with attorney mentors to reenact another local First Amendment Case – City of Ladue v. Gilleo. With their coaches, the Attorney Teams laid out their best arguments for their sides and prepared to address the questions they might face from the judges.

Two Junior Girl Scouts sitting at a table facing adult woman in black sweater and woman with a ponytail in a red shirt.

Junior judges anticipate oral arguments with mentor Suzanne Moore

At the same time, the Judge Team considered the arguments that the attorneys might present and crafted the questions that they would ask during oral argument.

Two Junior Girl Scouts sitting at counsel table listening to adult woman in black dress.

Junior attorneys for Margaret Gilleo preparing for oral argument with mentor Melissa Cosgrove.

As in real life, Margaret Gilleo’s First Amendment rights were protected by the Junior Judges, but the attorneys for the City of Ladue demanded an immediate appeal to the Supreme Court.

It is safe to say that these Juniors were very much Inside Government!