Constitution Day with Cape Central High School

On September 17, Cape Central High School traveled to St. Louis to celebrate Constitution Day 2025 with the U.S. Courts and the Judicial Learning Center. The day began with a welcome address from Chief Judge Stephen R. Clark, Eastern District of Missouri. Judge Clark also offered a juror orientation to prepare the students for the activity of the day.

In the Judicial Learning Center

After the students received their role assignment for the mock trial, they visited the Judicial Learning Center to learn more about the federal judicial branch, prepare for their case, and examine the First Amendment exhibits featured in the learning center: Tinker v. Des Moines and Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier.

The Mock Trials in the Eastern District of Missouri

Once the students had an opportunity to explore the Judicial Learning Center, it was time to explore the rest of the Thomas F. Eagleton Courthouse. They observed a federal sentencing hearing and had an opportunity to see the judicial system at work. With a brief period of preparation, it was time to put their skills to the test with mock trials based on the student First Amendment rights. Attorneys from the U.S. District Court and the U.S. Attorney’s Office coached the student lawyers as they advised their clients, conducted direct examination, and cross-examined their witnesses. Student deputy clerks kept the exhibits organized and swore in the jury and witnesses under the direction of case managers from the Clerk’s Office. The Hon. Stephen R. Welby, U.S. Magistrate Judge, and the Hon. Patricia L. Cohen, U.S. Magistrate Judge presided. In both cases, the jurors listened carefully and returned verdicts for the schools confirming that these students from Cape Central High School place a high premium on a disruption free learning environment!

The Eighth Circuit

No visit is complete without a trip to the U.S. Court of Appeals. Each student left with their own pocket Constitution and a deeper understanding of the role that a 236 year-old document still plays in their lives!