Walking in their shoes: the 2006 Justice Teaching Institute.

• Position: Florida

The Florida Justice Teaching Institute is funded by The Florida Bar Foundation and The Florida Bar with in-kind assistance from the Supreme Court of Florida and the Florida Law Related Education Association, Inc. Teachers then return to their school districts to organize their own local teaching institutes involving judges in their own judicial circuits.

Teachers from throughout Florida experienced justice "first-hand" at the 2006 Justice Teaching Institute, hosted annually by the Supreme Court of Florida. Each of Florida's seven Supreme Court justices served as faculty during the institute as teachers analyzed the constitutional dilemmas involving the Fourth Amendment. The case, Hilton v. State of Florida, addressed whether a person's right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures is violated when a vehicle is stopped by the police for a cracked windshield regardless of whether the crack created any immediate danger.

Teachers learned about the case and its constitutional issues through sessions with judges, police officers, attorneys, and the Supreme Court justices. The training provided a balance of academic and clinical experiences designed to prepare teachers to effectively teach about the courts and the administration of justice. Twenty-four participants representing 12 judicial circuits attended the institute.

The institute began with an exercise on the Florida Constitution and Code of Judicial Conduct. "In doing this, teachers received a quick introduction to the structure and function of the judicial branch in Florida as well as the role and responsibilities of judges," stated Judge Michael Genden, from the 11th Judicial Circuit and this year's Justice Teaching Institute facilitator and mentor judge.

Teachers were introduced to a variety of teaching methods as they learned about the appellate process. Annette Pitts, executive director of The Florida Law Related Education Association, Inc., demonstrated effective strategies for teaching controversial issues.

Simulations, case studies, Supreme Court conference activities, and re-enactments, were used. Additionally, teachers explored the...