Utah State Bar Committee on Civics Education Lesson Plan for Guest Speakers - 2012 Lesson on the Role of the Judiciary

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Theodore

Utah State Bar Committee on Civics Education Program lesson plan for guest speakers targets high school students with an interactive dialogue and case-study format. The session teaches constitutional separation of powers, rule of law, and the independent judiciary, including checks and balances. It specifies required materials, vocabulary activities, a fact-pattern discussion about Liberty City, and a moot-court style exercise covering legislative and executive roles, lawmaking, and appellate procedural posture.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages14

Reading Time35 min

AccessFree to download

Committee Mission

General Description

Materials Needed

Timing of Lesson

Lesson Plan Objectives

Lesson Plan

Introduction and Vocabulary Speed Round

Fact Pattern and The Law

The Case and Oral Argument

Debrief

Vocabulary List

Utah State Bar Committee on Civics Education Lesson Plan for Guest Speakers 2012 Lesson on the Role of the Judiciary Committee Mission The objective of the Utah State Bar Committee on Civics Education Program is to teach Utah’s high school students the significance of the constitutional concepts of separation of powers and the role of the judiciary. General Description This lesson uses dialogue and interactive case study to analyze the separation of powers, the rule of law, and our independent judiciary. Materials Needed 􀁸 Lesson Plan 􀀐 1 for each teacher and guest speaker 􀁸 Vocabulary List 􀀐 1 for each teacher and guest speaker 􀀐 Ask the teacher to review the terms with the students a day or two before you teach the class. This will give the students a foundation for your discussion and will keep your presentation moving quickly. 􀁸 Vocabulary Terms Sheet 􀀐 Print 3 copies, double-sided 􀁸 Vocabulary Definitions 􀀐 Cut out 3 sets of the definitions and put into 3 envelopes labeled “Vocabulary Definitions” 􀁸 3 Glue Sticks 􀁸 Fact Pattern 􀀐 Print 30 copies or ask the teacher how many students are in the class. 􀁸 Background of Lawsuit—Appellant (Joel Kimball) page 11 􀀐 Print 15 copies on green paper 􀁸 Background of Lawsuit—Appellee (Liberty City) page 12 􀀐 Print 15 copies on pink paper 􀁸 Background of Lawsuit—Judges page 13 􀀐 Print 3 copies on yellow paper Timing of Lesson 60 minutes, including time for questions and answers with guest speaker Lesson Plan Objectives -To support public education by supplementing high school students’ classroom education about civics, specifically learning about the judiciary and the rule of law, with an interactive program focusing on analytical and language arts skills. -To instill a sense of civic responsibility and participation, and appreciation for the rule of law in high school students, specifically seniors who will be of voting age soon. -To identify the three branches of government and the role of each. -To help students understand the concepts of “separation of powers” and “checks and balances,” and the role of the courts within these concepts. -To inform students on how judges make decisions, on whom the other players are within the court system, and how their roles are different. -To explore the concept of judicial review and the role of the third branch in examining the constitutionality of written laws and statutes. Lesson Plan (5 Minutes) 1. Introduce yourself. You are bringing a special opportunity to the classroom for these high school students, just by being you. You can offer the students a unique perspective about being a student, going to law school, and why you chose the practice of law for your career. Within your comfort, please tell the class why respecting our court system (and volunteering for a program like this) is so important to you. Consider discussing why you went to law school or wanted tobe a lawyer, what you think of lawyers and judges on TV, or who your favorite legal character in a story is. (10 Minutes) 2. Vocabulary Speed Round. Split the class into 3 groups. Give each group: 􀁸 1 Vocabulary Terms Sheet 􀁸 1 Envelope with Vocabulary Definitions 􀁸 1 Glue Stick Ask the students to glue the definitions onto the term sheet. After 5 minutes, tell them to put the glue sticks down. Discuss the terms they were unable to match—these should be the terms that were the hardest for them to understand. Use this as a starting point for your discussion. (5 Minutes) 3. Fact Pattern. Hand out the Fact Pattern and read it aloud to the class. 4. Ask students how the legislature and executive branches would work together to help form a solution to Liberty City’s concerns. For example: 􀁸 How can Liberty City’s concerns be translated into law? 􀁸 Do they file a petition with the court? 􀁸 What happens after the legislature proposes new legislation? 􀁸 Does the legislature make it law? 􀁸 Who is

FAQs

What is the lesson’s main goal for students?

To help students understand separation of powers, the rule of law, and the role of the judiciary through interactive discussion and case study.

What materials does the lesson require?

A lesson plan, vocabulary list and terms sheet, vocabulary definitions (in envelopes), glue sticks, and a fact pattern with printed background pages for appellant, appellee, and judges.

How does the lesson run during the 60 minutes?

It includes an introduction, a vocabulary speed round, a fact-pattern activity, discussion of legislation and the case background, group moot-court arguments, and a debrief with questions.

Sep 28, 2026

Uploaded by Theodore