CONTACT: Teresa Weidemann-Smith
State Bar of Wisconsin
(800) 444-9404, ext. 6025
twsmith@wisbar.org
Judicial Teacher Institute Teaches Teachers
MADISON, February 16, 2005 -- Lee Arbetman,
co-author of Street Law, will be featured with Wisconsin
Supreme Court Justices Ann Walsh Bradley and Patience Roggensack and
University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Curriculum and Instruction
professor Dr. Diana Hess at the annual Judicial Teacher Institute -
From the Courtroom to the Classroom from Thursday afternoon,
February 17 to Friday morning, February 18 at the State Bar of
Wisconsin, 5302 Eastpark Boulevard in Madison. On Saturday, February 19
participants will convene at the Wisconsin Supreme Court chambers at the
state capitol.
A two and a half day professional development program for 30 public
and private secondary social studies teachers, the Judicial Teacher
Institute provides the newest tools to teach students about the judicial
system in Wisconsin and outline the role of the Supreme Court. Other
Wisconsin Supreme Court justices, attorneys, teachers, circuit court and
municipal court judges from around the state will also participate.
"The institute utilizes a curriculum with innovative traditional and
web-based teaching materials for teachers to better teach students about
the judicial system," said "Chuttie" Senn, Chair of the State Bar of
Wisconsin Law-related Education Committee. "The institute also provides
the opportunity for the Supreme Court Justices to present their
viewpoints on the judicial system. The event offers a face to face
government learning experience for participating teachers."
By participating in the institute teachers will:
- use the case study approach to help students understand the facts,
issues, arguments, and Court's decision in a Wisconsin landmark case,
State v. Yoder;
- hear from judges who grapple with tough decisions about whether to
take away a person's freedom;
- bring Wisconsin courts and the law to life for students while
interacting with educators, attorneys, judges, and Supreme Court
justices;
- participate in mini mock trials to find out how Wisconsin municipal
courts handle different types of ordinance violations; and
- learn how the Supreme Court sifts through the 1,000 petitions filed
each year to choose the approximately 100 cases it will hear.
The State Bar of Wisconsin is the mandatory professional association,
created by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, for attorneys who hold a
Wisconsin law license. With more than 21,000 members, the State Bar aids
the courts in improving the administration of justice, provides
continuing legal education for its members to help them maintain their
expertise, and assists Wisconsin lawyers in carrying out community
service initiatives to educate the public about the legal system and the
value of lawyers.
For more information about the Judicial Teacher Institute, contact
Dee Runaas, State Bar of Wisconsin Law-related Education Coordinator at
608/250-6191 or visit www.legalexplorer.com.
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