United States District Court, Central District of California

Community Outreach

Subject: Section: Last Updated:
Teacher's Institute2007 Teachers’ Seminar at Federal Courthouse 10/11/2007

TO: Chairs of the Social Studies Department and Social Studies Teachers

FROM: Sherri R. Carter, District Court Executive

RE: Federal Court Teacher’s Institute 2007

The United States District Court, Central District of California is again inviting teachers to participate in the Federal Court Teacher’s Institute program. The program will be held on Friday, October 19, 2007, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at the U.S. Courthouse, 312 N. Spring Street, Room 1001 (10th Floor), Los Angeles, California. This year’s presentation is entitled “Partners in Justice: An Independent Judiciary and a Fair-Minded Jury.” The purpose of this year’s topic is to provide high school teachers with a foundation for discussing with their students the issue of separating emotions from reason when sitting as jurors in a trial.

The program is based on the Supreme Court’s decision in Carey v. Musladin where the question raised was the following: If the friends and family of a murder victim sit in the courtroom wearing buttons with a picture of the deceased during the trial of the alleged murderer, does that prejudice the jury and deprive the defendant of his right to an impartial jury? The interactive format will include a presentation by a Panel of attorneys, discussion groups facilitated by a Panel member, and two teacher debates, one on juror prejudice and the other on victims’ rights v. defendants’ rights. Question and answer sessions will be interspersed throughout the program. Written material will be provided.
The Court has obtained non-appropriated funds that have been authorized for teachers to hire substitute teachers so that teachers are able to attend the Institute. Your request to your principal or department chair to attend the Institute should also include a request for reimbursement for a substitute teacher. (The fund number and the program number will be e-mailed to you once you register for the event.) If you are a teacher from a school district other than Los Angeles Unified and want to request reimbursement for a substitute teacher, please contact Lydia Yurtchuk at 213-894-8249.

In addition to substitute teacher funding, the court will reimburse attendees for any parking expense (receipt must be submitted) and will host a complimentary continental breakfast before the start of the program as well as a complimentary catered lunch.

If you are interested in attending the Teachers Institute, please fax the attached registration form to Ms. Yurtchuk at 213-894-2059 no later than October 11, 2007. The form may be reproduced if additional copies are necessary. If you have any questions, please call Ms. Yurtchuk or e-mail her at lydia_yurtchuk@cacd.uscourts.gov.

The District Court looks forward to your attendance at this educational event.