McHenry County judges tour Crystal Lake District 47 middle schools

Two McHenry County judges recently talked about the judicial system, local government and its effect on students with seventh graders at Crystal Lake Elementary School District 47 middle schools.

This is the third year the program between District 47 and the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court has taken place, according to a news release. Judges Justin Hansen and Jennifer Johnson interacted with seventh graders from Hannah Beardsley, Bernotas and Lundahl middle schools – more than 800 students overall.

During each presentation, the judges reviewed basic civics principles, including the organization of the government and the concept of federalism. The presentation challenged each student to consider what “justice” means. With the help of volunteers, the students worked through different scenarios, explaining what factors matter to a just system and a just decision.

To bring the concepts together and show students how they affected their lives, the judges turned to a recent U.S. Supreme Court case involving a high school-aged litigant and her First Amendment rights, then asked the students how they would have ruled and why.