Teaching the Supreme
Court of the United States
P R E S E N T E R : K I M B E R LY H U F F M A N
WAY N E C O U N T Y S C H O O L S C A R E E R C E N T E R
SMITHVILLE, OHIO
AGENDA
 Introduction
 James Madison, Ashland MAHG, and Street Law
 Activity 1- How well do you know SCOTUS?
 Activity 2- Granting Cert
 Resources
 Contact
INTRODUCTION
 WCSCC 2000-present
 ACTE National Policy Seminar 2008,2009,2010
 James Madison Fellow 2008
 Dual Enrollment with Stark State Technical College,2010
 Ashland University, MAHG 2012
 Thesis: Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. First Amendment, Freedom
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of Speech Jurisprudence.
Presidential Academy 2011 ( Philly, Gettysburg and DC) 3 weeks
Liberty Fund Constitutional Ratifying Convention in Philly and
Mount Vernon, 2012
Street Law 2012
James Madison Congressional Fellow 2013
Web links
 www.streetlaw.org
 www.JamesMadison.com
 http://www.ashland.edu/graduate/history-gov
What I did last summer.
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Met Assistant Solicitor General Jeff Lankin
Had a dinner reception at Jones Day.
Learned how the Court grants cert.
Met Ricki Seidman ( Clinton) and Rachel Brand ( Bush 43)
who prepped nominees before judicial confirmations.
Met Supreme Court Litigators, Richard Katskee and Robin
Conrad to discuss Interest groups and the court.
Visited and toured the Supreme Court.
Met Gary Kemp and Cynthia Rapp, Deputy Clerks of the
court. ( death appeals and Oyez)
Participated in Moot Court.
Learned how to teach cases using Jigsaw
Last summer continued
 Meeting to discuss media coverage with Lyle Denniston, Dean of
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the Supreme Court press corps.
Witnessed announcements of Supreme court decisions ( saw,
Toobin, Totenberg, and O’Conner)
Had lunch with former clerks of the United States Supreme Court.
Studied Justices interpretation of the constitution.
Studied coverage of the Supreme Court in the national newspapers
Studied Arizona v US ( immigration), US v Jones (GPS), Miller v
Alabama (Juvenile life without parole),US v Alverez (Stolen Valor
Act), Blueford , Arkansas ( double jeopardy/ partial verdict),
Florence v Board of Freeholders ( strip search for minor traffic
offense), and HHS v Florida ( Obama Care and commerce clause)
Had a dinner reception with the Chief Justice.
Book Club
State Standards
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Topic: Civic Participation and Skills
Democratic government is enhanced when individuals exercise the skills to effectively participate in civic
affairs.
 Content Statements:
3. Issues can be analyzed through the critical use of information from public records, surveys, research data and
policy positions of advocacy groups.
4. The processes of persuasion, compromise, consensus building and negotiation contribute to the resolution of
conflicts and differences.
 Topic: Basic Principles of the U.S. Constitution
Principles related to representative democracy are reflected in the articles and amendments of the U.S.
Constitution and provide structure for the government of the United States.
 Content Statements:
5. As the supreme law of the land, the U.S. Constitution incorporates basic principles which help define the
government of the United States as a federal republic including its structure, powers and relationship with the
governed.
6. The Federalist Papers and the Anti-Federalist Papers framed the national debate over the basic principles of
government encompassed by the Constitution of the United States.
7. Constitutional government in the United States has changed over time as a result of amendments to the U.S.
Constitution, Supreme Court decisions, legislation and informal practices.
State Standards
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Topic: Structure and Functions of the Federal Government
Three branches compose the basic structure of the federal government. Public policy is created through the
making of laws, the execution of the laws and the adjudication of disputes under the laws.
 Content Statements:
14. Law and public policy are created and implemented by three branches of government; each functions with its
own set of powers and responsibilities.
15. The political process creates a dynamic interaction among the three branches of government in addressing
current issues.
 Topic: Public Policy
Federal, state and local governments address problems and issues by making decisions, creating laws, enforcing
regulations and taking action.
 Content Statements:
21. A variety of entities within the three branches of government, at all levels, address public policy issues which
arise in domestic and international affairs.
22. Individuals and organizations play a role within federal, state and local governments in helping to determine
public (domestic and foreign) policy.
How well do
you know
your US
Supreme
Court?
10 questions
ACTIVITY #1
Scotusblog.com
Segal Cover Score
liberal 1-0 Conservative
Name
Ideology
Sonia Sotomayor
0.780
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
0.680
Stephen Breyer
0.475
Elena Kagan
0.730
Anthony Kennedy
0.365
Clarence Thomas
0.160
John Roberts
0.120
Samuel Alito
0.100
Antonin Scalia
0.000
How to get to the United States Supreme Court
1%
80
8000
ACTIVITY #2 GRANTING CERT
 WRIT OF CERTIORARI
 LATIN WORD - “To be
informed of”
 Usually the US is a
petitioner
 More than 3 amicus briefs
filed in support
 Actual conflict in lower
courts.
 RULE #10
 RESOLVE CONFLICT BETWEEN
FEDERAL APPEALS COURTS AND
STATE SUPREME COURTS ON
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS OF
FEDERAL LAW
 WHEN LOWER COURT “ HAS
DECIDED AND IMPORTANT
QUESTION OF FEDERAL LAW
THAT HAS NOT BEEN FULLY
SETTLED BY THE SUPREME
COURT”
ACTIVITY #2 GRANTING CERT
 1995
 Prison inmates are
prohibited from filing
civil rights suites in
federal court until all
avenues within the
system have been
exhausted.
 1988
 Congress gives
increased
discretion over
decisions to
grant cert.
ACTIVITY #2 GRANTING CERT
frivolous
Absurd
Circuit
conflict
Clear
Denies
Bad
facts
Important
Too
new
Better
one
will
appear
interesting
Too
complicated
Obstruction
of justice
denied
granted
DECIDING TO DECIDE
 1. Drug sweep in school parking lot
 2. Video Voyeurism
 3. Public Money for computers in Religious Schools
 4. School dress code.
In Addition
Rule of four
Cert pool – all but Alito
Resources
 Hillsdale College http://online.hillsdale.edu/
 Constitutional Convention
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http://teachingamericanhistory.org/convention/
Bill of Rights http://teachingamericanhistory.org/bor/
Teaching American History http://teachingamericanhistory.org/
MAHG http://mahg.ashland.edu/
James Madison Fellowship http://www.jamesmadison.com/
Liberty fund http://www.libertyfund.org/
Street Law http://www.streetlaw.org/en/home
SCOTUS Stats http://www.scotusblog.com/2012/06/final-octoberterm-2011-stat-pack-and-summary-memo/
Gilder Lehrman http://www.gilderlehrman.org/programsexhibitions/professional-development
Survey http://www.findlaw.com/
Architecture
 Interior of court
 http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/north&southwalls.pdf
 Medallions
 http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/medallions&metopes.
pdf Symbols of law
http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/symbolsoflaw.pdf
 East side
 http://www.supremecourt.gov/about/eastpediment.pdf
CONTACT ME
 [email protected]