| Winter 2012 Vol. 13, Ed. 2 |
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| a publication of the Nebraska State Bar Foundation and its State Center for Law-Related Education for the Public | |
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Law Day Essay Contest Addresses “Democracy and the Duty to Vote”
With 2012 being a presidential election year, the Nebraska Secretary of State, John A. Gale, is partnering with the Bar Foundation and the Nebraska Supreme Court to sponsor the 13th annual Law Day Essay Contest. The question is as follows: In many United States elections, less than one in four registered voters actually vote. Also, not all citizens who are eligible to vote actually register to exercise this import right. In Nebraska, even in the 2008 and 2004 general elections, which included voting for president, the number of citizens actually voting was no better than 3 of every 4 registered voters: QUESTION: In this 2012 presidential election year and in all other elections, what do you think should be done to increase the number of registered voters and voter turnout?. Teachers of students in grades 8 through 12 are encouraged to sponsor students in this contest. The winner from each grade level will be recognized at the annual Law Day Luncheon in Lincoln on April 30. Students representing grades 9 through 12 will be eligible for a drawing to win a scholarship to the National Student Leadership Conference on a major university campus in the summer of 2012. In addition to the teacher invitation letter, which includes instructions for writing and submitting essays, you will also find resources for classroom discussion or preparing to write an essay on the Bar Foundation website. Experience Gained at the National Student Leadership Conference - 2011
By Adelaide Curley, Marian High School 10th grader. Editorial note: Adelaide received a partial scholarship from the McGrath North Mullin & Kratz law firm to attend the National Student Leadership Conference in the summer of 2011. The program I decided to attend was International Diplomacy in the summer of 2011. I spent 11 days at American University in Washington, D.C. learning the ins and outs of what goes into being a successful diplomat and leader. We had many guest speakers, including Ambassador Ade Adefuya from Nigeria, Anne Bradley from the International Justice Mission, and Mr. Colman McCarthy from the Center for Peace Education. Each speaker was incredibly interesting to listen to, bringing with them a mix of instruction and humor. Scholarship Recipient Expresses Gratitude to the McGrath North Mullin & Kratz Firm
By Holly Green, Grand Island Northwest High School 11th Grader My name is Holly Green and during the last Law Day Essay Scholarship, I won the scholarship provided by McGrath North Mullin & Kratz. With the scholarship I decided to attend the National Student Leadership Conference (NSLC) in San Francisco, California. During the time there I attended seminars on Mastering Leadership and stayed on campus at Berkeley University." I was the first to arrive on campus and shortly after, other students started arriving and we quickly became friends, even with it being five months later, I talk to most of them every other night we became so close. The opening night, the staff opened the doors to seats and a dance floor. All of us stood around, not knowing what to do. Finally they coaxed us all in and the meeting began with a few activities involving following the leader. Mr. Walsh, our main teacher, mentioned how we stood like a bunch of sheep cowering before a lion's den, and then he mentioned he'd have us all dancing into the room by the end of the week. Some of us were skeptical; others thought he was plum crazy; but he did it. By the end of the week, they would open the doors to the dance floor and all of us would be running in for our next turn to dance. Calling all 5th grade teachers! If you are interested in having your class participate in a Law Day Job Shadowing activity, please contact Cindy Lilleoien, cindy@nebarfnd.org, to discuss the possibility of arranging such an educational opportunity for your students. Contact should be made no later than March 1. For more information about Law Day Job Shadowing for fifth graders, visit http://www.nebarfnd.org/law-day-job-shadowing/ where you will find a teacher orientation video as well as photos from Job Shadowing sites around the state. Lincoln East High School Takes Seventh Consecutive State Title at
On January 9, the 20-member team from Lincoln East High School won the 2012 We The People: the Citizen and the Constitution State Championship which was held on the Nebraska Wesleyan University campus in Lincoln. This team will represent Nebraska in the national competition in Washington, D.C., April 28 – May 1. The team is coached by teacher Kevin Rippe. Taking second place in the competition was the Lincoln Southeast High School-Gold team, which will represent Nebraska if the opportunity to send a second team to the national competition is granted. Teacher Dave Nebel is the coach for the Lincoln Southeast-Gold team as well as the Lincoln Southeast-Black team that received honorable mention. Other teams receiving honorable mention in the championship were Lincoln Southwest High School coached by teacher Ryan Salem; Holdrege, coached by teacher Chad Bailey; V.J. & Angela Skutt High School coached by Mary Meyer; and Wilcox-Hildreth High School coached by Ken Meyers. More than 135 students competed in or participated in preparing for the state championship. Skutt Catholic High School Claims Third State Mock Trial Title
The "Green" team from V.J. and Angela Skutt Catholic High School, Omaha, won the Nebraska High School State Mock Trial title for 2011. This Skutt team defeated the Ogallala High School team in final round competition on Wednesday, December 7, in Papillion. Judge Lyle Strom, Federal District Court for the District of Nebraska, presided over the competition at the Sarpy County Courthouse. The Skutt team, which presented the plaintiff's side of a civil libel lawsuit, has won the privilege to represent Nebraska at the National High School Mock Trial Championship in Albuquerque, New Mexico, May 3-6, 2012. A team from Skutt High School also won the state competition and competed at the national level in 2008 and 2011. The Nebraska Council of School Attorneys helps defray the students' travel expenses by annually awarding a gift of $1,000 to the Bar Foundation. Justice Clarence Thomas Celebrates Constitution Day
It isn’t everyday that high school students welcome a sitting Justice of the United States Supreme Court to their campus. But, on September 16, students at Lincoln High School and Omaha’s Northwest Magnet Schools greeted Justice Clarence Thomas who spent more than an hour addressing the students and answering their questions. At Lincoln High, Baccalaureate students and other students in upper level Social Studies classes filled the Ted Sorensen Theater where Justice Kenneth Stephan, Nebraska Supreme Court, introduced Thomas. Dr. Mike Wortman, Lincoln High Principal, made the arrangements for the Constitution Day assembly. 2012 Summer Teacher’s Institute…will you be there? The 7th Annual Summer Teacher’s Institute will take place June 24-29, 2012 in Washington, DC. The focus is on Federal Trials and Great Debates in United States History. The week of professional development is designed especially for teachers of U.S. History, Government, Civics or Law, to deepen knowledge of the federal judiciary and the role the federal courts have played in key public controversies that have defined our constitutional and other legal rights. The Federal Trials and Great Debate Summer Institute will feature historians, federal judges and curriculum consultants who will concentrate on landmark federal trials through curriculum developed by the Federal Judicial Center. Participation in this enriching week is limited to 20 teachers. Travel, lodging and meal expenses will be reimbursed to attendees. The deadline to apply is Thursday, March 1, 2012.
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