SUPREME DECISION
TURN YOUR CLASSROOM INTO A COURTROOM
In this series of class-wide mock courts, students take on the roles of Justices, Petitioners and Respondents to simulate a case being argued before the Supreme Court.
Petitioners and Respondents craft arguments and present them to Justices. The Justices question the legal teams and then deliberate together before ruling on the case.
These fictional cases draw on the Constitution and precedent setting Supreme Court cases to examine issues central to both student rights and the country. Each case includes videos that provide students with background on the case and the historical rulings that provide precedent.
Using the rubric of judicial lenses, students also learn about the different ways Justices interpret the law, from looking closely at the text of the Constitution; to looking back at prior rulings; to looking ahead to future outcomes.
During a simulation your students will:
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Analyze the Constitution and landmark Supreme Court cases
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Collaboratively build arguments
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Practice public speaking and argumentation
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Consider different perspectives as they deliberate and rule
Each simulation can be completed in 60-80 minutes. Want to divide the session over two class periods? Supreme Decision lets your class easily pick up where they left off.
Developed in partnership with iCivics.
CASES
Student Due Process
Guide your students through the fictional case of Jamie Johnson, a high school student who was suspended after a student protest got out of hand. Students will examine the Fourteenth Amendment right to due process and apply the precedent set in Goss v. Lopez to answer the question: Does the Constitution protect Jamie’s right to due process before a suspension from school?
Student Free Speech
Guide your students through the fictional case of Ben Brewer, a student at Hamilton High School who was suspended for violating the school dress code. Students will assume the roles of Petitioner, Respondent, or Justice as they examine the First Amendment right to free speech and apply the precedent of Tinker v. Des Moines to answer the question: Does the Constitution protect Ben’s right to wear a band t-shirt to school?
HOW DOES SUPREME DECISION WORK?
SET UP & LOG IN
Select a case, create a session and share it with your students by displaying it on your shared classroom screen. Ask your students to go to the URL displayed at the top of the classroom screen and enter the code to join.
As students log in, the software assigns them a role. Ask your students to read their Brief. Once enough students have logged in, you can begin by clicking Close Roster. Late students will be able to join at any time.
A Supreme Decision case can usually be completed in one 60-minute session or split into two 40-minute sessions.
