A twenty-seven-minute documentary about the history of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, the Supreme Court Chamber designed by architect Cass Gilbert, and the structure of the West Virginia court system was debuted at 6 p.m. September 2 at the West Virginia Culture Center.
Foundation of Justice: Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia was shown to an audience of invited guests at the conclusion of the West Virginia State Bar's annual reception for the Supreme Court on the first day of its Fall Term of Court. The press was invited to join the Court's guests to watch the film after the Bar reception ended.
The film was shown to the public at 9:30 p.m. September 3 on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
The Supreme Court in September 2007 agreed to fund the film, which was produced by MotionMasters of Charleston and completed late this spring.
It is narrated by Justice Thomas McHugh. Supreme Court Administrator Steve Canterbury suggested Justice McHugh would be perfect for the project long before anyone knew about Justice Joseph P. Albright's illness, or that then-Senior Status Justice McHugh would be appointed to fill in for him either during his illness or after his death.
"I wanted to narrate the film. I felt very close to the judicial branch of government," Justice McHugh said. "I wanted to do my part to tell others about the judicial branch. I really wanted to see our history more documented. Our history has been lost sometimes. I wanted to give those who follow us a glimpse of how we performed our duty to West Virginia."
The DVD is designed to be the length of about one class period, plus allow for some discussion time. Justice McHugh made a presentation about the DVD to the West Virginia Board of Education on August 13, and received the Board's permission to distribute it to state schools. The Supreme Court has since sent copies to middle school West Virginia studies teachers and high school teachers of civics, history and law courses, in both public and private schools across the state. Accompanying class activities are available on the Supreme Court Web site at http://www.state.wv.us/wvsca/kidspage/FoundationJustice.htm.
Members of the Court staff are working with the West Virginia Civics Literacy Council on coordinating use of the DVD with Constitution Day activities. Constitution Day is September 17.
To obtain copies of The Foundation of Justice DVD contact Public Information Officer Jennifer Bundy at (304) 340-2305 or jennifer.bundy@courtswv.gov, or Public Information Specialist April Harless at (304) 340-2306 or april.harless@courtswv.gov.
In his speech to the West Virginia Board of Education, Justice McHugh also reminded the Board of the Court's other civic education programs.
"I'm told it has become almost an annual event for a Supreme Court Justice to discuss with the West Virginia Board of Education the Court's efforts to assist you in educating the youth of our state on the judicial system," he said. "Including this past year, I have spent nearly a quarter of a century as a member of the judiciary. Never have I seen as much interaction with the schools as what has been done in the last decade or so."
"In late 2006, Justice Robin Jean Davis appeared here to discuss with you her Robes to Schools program. And you approved it. Since then, dozens of magistrates, family court judges, circuit court judges, and Supreme Court Justices have visited schools across West Virginia to read to thousands of students and talk to them about the justice system. The feedback from teachers has been overwhelmingly positive," Justice McHugh said.
"My predecessor and friend, the late Justice Joseph Albright, embraced the program whole-heartedly. He especially loved to read to elementary school students. He always purchased the books he read and donated them to the schools he visited," Justice McHugh said. "He picked books appropriate for the age level of the students with the help of his daughter, Doctor Lettie Albright, who is an associate professor in the Department of Reading at Texas Woman's University. With her permission, the Supreme Court uses Read-Aloud guidelines she created on our Web site and in our program."
He also talked about the LAWS program. LAWS, which stands for Legal Advancement for West Virginia Children, will mark its twelfth year next year. LAWS allows high school and college students from one county or court circuit to study the cases on a Supreme Court argument docket and then attend that argument docket at their local courthouse. LAWS programs have been held in Beckley, Clarksburg, Huntington, Wheeling, Summersville, Martinsburg, Parkersburg, Charleston, Romney, Princeton, and Lewisburg. About three thousand high school and college students in twenty counties have participated.
"Last year Justice Maynard appeared here to talk to you about a mock trial program for middle schools. Our staff has worked extensively with your Social Studies Coordinator, Regina Scotchie, and that program this fall will enter the third phase of a pilot project. The students and teachers who have participated in the program, called West Virginia Law Adventure, have loved it," Justice McHugh said.
"I served as a judge for one of the mock trials in the Supreme Court Chamber this spring, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The students, of course, asked some questions which may not have survived an objection in a trial court - such as why did you murder the victim? But their enthusiasm was apparent."
Justice McHugh also talked about another project of the Court. Early this year, the Court began sending to high school civics classes a graphic novel produced by the National Center for State Courts. The graphic novel series is called Justice Case Files. It addresses legal issues relevant to teenagers and comes with a corresponding lesson plan for teachers.
The civic education efforts are part of the Court's ongoing dedication to help schools teach the youth of West Virginia about the judicial branch of government.
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