2010 Equal Justice Under Law
A constitutional issues and public policy program
for Illinois High School Students.

Protests at Military Funerals Focus of 2010 Program

Program Overview
Equal Justice Under Law is designed to enhance students' understanding of a recently decided U.S. Supreme Court case and related public policy questions. In their classes, students examine case facts, review the constitutional issue, consider the arguments they find persuasive, and analyze a related law or public policy using CRFC developed curriculum materials. CRFC also conducts parallel conferences in Chicago and Springfield where students come together to deliberate the constitutional issue and discuss policy applications with peers from a variety of school settings. Topics have included school drug testing, the juvenile death penalty, and physician-assisted suicide. The program occurs in the fall semester.

Featured Case
Equal Justice Under Law will feature the case, Snyder v. Phelps, a case involving protests done at the site of military funerals. The father of a soldier killed in Iraq has asked the United States Supreme Court to address the First Amendment's reach in protecting speech during a private affair like a funeral. The Supreme Court is also asked to define what constitutes a "captive audience" and whether this includes an individual attending a family member's funeral.

Program Highlights

Student Training and Teacher Workshop
Selected students from participating teachers' classes receive training for their role as discussion facilitator and coordinator in preparation for the parallel student-led conferences in Springfield (October 13) and Chicago (November 19). A legal resource person shares additional insights on the law, case, and/or policy with both students and their teachers. Teachers receive additional classroom ready materials developed by the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago.

Class Preparation at Participating Schools
Students examine the constitutional issue, review those arguments they find persuasive, and analyze the related law or public policy question using CRFC developed curriculum materials. Students conduct a Public Policy Poll at the school. Results are posted on the CRFC website.

Equal Justice Under Law Student Conference
Students attend parallel Equal Justice Under Law Student Conferences in Springfield (November 3) and Chicago (December 10). At the student-led conference, they deliberate the constitutional issue and discuss the related policy questions with peers, legal experts, and policymakers. Following the conference, students offer their perspectives in op-ed pieces, letters to legislators, and/or position papers.