Classrooms to Courtrooms

These topics stimulate critical thinking, provide the basis for presentations and simulations, and enliven student homework and projects. The resources are posted in a variety of formats for immediate use in the classroom and the courtroom, including scripted courtroom dramas, civil discussions, and Oxford style debates, Supreme Court oral arguments, and Supreme Court case conferences.

Real-Life Scenarios

• Social Media and Student Speech. Precedent: Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier
• Football Fans and Free Speech. Precedent: Morse v. Frederick
  
• Texting While Driving (Scripted Trial Scene/Jury Exercise)
• Downloading Music and Movies (Scripted Trial Scene/Jury Exercise)

Beware Teens: It's Your Money and Your Life

• Staying Out of Bankruptcy Court (Scenarios, Video, Discussion)

Keeping it Real Behind the Wheel

• Rights of Passengers Brendlin v. California (Oxford Debate/Jury Exercise)
• High-Speed Police Chase Scott v. Harris (Oxford Debate/Jury Exercise)

First Amendment

First Amendment and Students

• Pillars of the First Amendment
• What Does Free Speech Mean?

First Amendment Cases:

• Freedom of Religion Engel v. Vitale (Oxford Style Debate/Jury Exercise)
  
• Free Speech and Flag Burning Texas v. Johnson (Oxford Style Debate/Jury Exercise)
• Free Speech and School Conduct Morse v. Frederick (Oxford Style Debate/Jury Exercise)
  
• Freedom of the Press and School Newspapers Hazelwood School District v. Kuhlmeier (Oxford Style Debate/Jury Exercise)
  
• Freedom of Assembly Cox v. New Hampshire (Oxford Style Debate/Jury Exercise)
  
• Freedom of Petition What it Means
  

Fourth Amendment

Scripts and Oxford Debates/Juries:

• Teen House Party Search Hudson v. Michigan (Scripted Court Simulation/Jury Exercise)
• Cell Phone Surveillance Katz v. United States (Oxford Debate/Jury Exercise)
• Sobriety Checkpoints Michigan v. Sitz (Supreme Court Oral Arguments)

Sixth Amendment

• Balancing  Fair Trial and Free Speech  Carey v. Musladin (Oxford Debate/Jury Exercise)
• Journalists and Grand Juries Branzburg v. Hayes: (Oxford Debate/Jury Exercise)