High School Students: Due Process Conversations with Leaders in the Law

Talk to Teens About Due Process

Youth violence, disaffection with community, lack of civility and low achievement are often concerns associated with young people today. How can you help? By sharing your knowledge of the role of law in guaranteeing American freedoms, you can help teenagers realize that they have rights and responsibilities. You can help them understand that they can improve their lives and our society through knowledge of our laws and legal processes and through participation in our democracy. You can personalize the law by sharing your expertise with teenagers in a simple and informal "Conversation" about due process -- a concept of special importance to adolescents.

Are you thinking, "It's not so simple"? Think again. Young people need little prompting to talk about issues that affect their lives...issues like dress codes, curfew, locker searches, and drug testing, to name a few.

They also are fascinated by issues that are less personal, but very compelling, such as the death penalty. The interest is there and we can help you with planning.

Here are suggestions on how to implement the Conversations with Leaders in the Law program, bringing students in grades 6-12 together with legal and law-related community leaders. High School Students: Due Process Conversations with Leaders in the Law

Identifying Speakers

Leaders in the law from state or local institutions in your community may be invited to share their perspectives with young people. Identify officials from the legislative, executive and judicial branches of local, state and federal government Invite either a single guest or a group that can be moderated by a bar leader. Ask them to share critical perspectives on how the freedoms, rights, and procedures grounded in the U.S. Constitution are applied in everyday life.

Suggested Speakers Include:

 State or local bar association representatives  Specialty and/or minority bar association representatives  Judges  General counsels of corporations in your area  Representatives from the ACLU and other  law-related civic organizations  Lawyers living or practicing in your community  Law professors  Law students

If you are the law leader and are looking for teenagers to meet with, try your local junior or senior high school, your local scout troop, or your church or synagogue's youth group. You can meet at a local school, in a community center, or in your office (tailor the numbers to suit your situation). The meeting can be as simple or elaborate as you prefer. High School Students: Due Process Conversations with Leaders in the Law

Selecting Topics

The Law Day theme "Celebrate Your Freedom" sets the stage for many good topics, especially those related to due process. There is a broad spectrum of fascinating cases that can serve as a point of reference for a lively discussion. Teenagers may have heard of Miranda v. Arizona, the Oklahoma City bombing trials, or Oprah Winfrey's recent trial, but need to know more. Other important cases that can spark interest are: New Jersey v. T.L.O., Vernonia v. Acton, Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier, Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser, In re Gault, Goss v. Lopez, Terry v. Ohio, Gideon v. Wainwright, and Mapp v. Ohio. High School Students: Due Process Conversations with Leaders in the Law

Conversation Starter and Talking Points

Terry's Terrible Day

Terry never thought much about due process until today. While at school, Terry learned that, as a member of the basketball team, she would have to undergo a urine test that day as part of the school's random testing of athletes. She went to her locker and found the assistant principal had opened it. A teacher reported smelling marijuana in that part of the hallway and so all lockers in that area were being inspected.

On the drive home, Terry's friend, Chris, drank from a beer can just as they were passing a police car. The officer pulled Terry over. Chris put the open can on the floor under his sweatshirt as the officer approached the car. The officer asked Terry for her driver's license and then asked if he could inspect the car. Terry consented. Finding the can of beer, the officer asked Terry if she knew how it got there.

See: Teaching about Due Process. High School Students: Due Process Conversations with Leaders in the Law

Resources to Assist You

For background information on the constitutional rights of the criminally accused and a visual aid for teaching about probable cause for search and seizure, see the chapter, "Constitutional Rights," in ABA's Guide to Educating the Public About the Courts (PC#235-0025). ABA's Sure-Fire Presentations (PC#497-0010) contains two lessons, "Teaching About Search and Seizure" and "Balancing Power and Liberty in the School," involving the cases New Jersey v. T.L.O. and Bethel v. Fraser. You can find additional helpful information, such as more pointers for teaching about due process and about human rights and legal rights, in the Lessons section. To order the above products, call 800-285-2221 or order online through our catalog.