Justices lead professional development for social studies teachers Tuesday, October 24, 2023

Seventeen history, government, and social studies teachers from across the state took part in the ninth North Dakota Justices Teaching Institute: “The Constitution and Judicial Decision-Making” Oct. 19-20, in Bismarck.

The North Dakota Supreme Court developed this public outreach program to foster a better civic understanding of the role of the courts, how courts work and how judges make decisions.  Following the Institute, teachers will be able to teach others with confidence about the nature, history, structure, function, and processes of the courts and the legal system.

The Institute was facilitated by the Honorable Jon J. Jensen, the Honorable Daniel J. Crothers, the Honorable Lisa Fair McEvers, the Honorable Jerod E. Tufte, and the Honorable Douglas A. Bahr.

With Supreme Court justices as their guides, the teachers explored the judicial system and the criminal and civil court process in the context of preparing for the Institute's final application – a mock oral argument. The participants served as justices and decided a 14th Amendment substantive due process constitutional question argued by Josh Amundson of the Attorney General’s Office and Todd Ewell, deputy director of North Dakota Commission on Legal Counsel for Indigents. 

Participants were Brittany Binstock, Belfield; Michelle Candy, Bismarck; Chris Cavanaugh, Bismarck; Kyle Christofferson, Fargo; Donna Davidson, Center; Christine Fandrich, Minot; Chase Glueckert, Stanley; Michelle Hornseth, Mott; Betty Hurst, Petersburg; John Johanson, Fargo; Erik Kautzman, Beach; Kelli Kessel, Belfield; David Locken, Fessenden; Stephanie McCann, Litchville; Conrad Pederson, Flasher; Erica Quale, Bismarck; and Shannon Sorenson, Bismarck.

To earn a continuing education credit from the University of North Dakota, participants must complete at least 3 hours of in-classroom work with their students; teaching them the concepts learned at the Institute.

The next Justices Teaching Institute is scheduled for October 2025.

Teachers from across the state pose for a picture behind the justices of the North Dakota Supreme Court.

Justice Lisa McEvers provided teachers with an introduction to North Dakota trial courts.

Teachers are sworn in as part of their role as a justice in the mock oral argument.