Civic Education

14 ABA Journal Civic Education articles.

Vision for 2020: A focus on defending the rule of law

The legal industry is principally focused on technology, new models, competition, reregulation and the sustainability of the traditional partnership model—issues that impact stakeholder livelihoods and career trajectories. Defending the rule of law is a less concrete but seminal challenge the industry must focus on in 2020 and beyond.

Feb 20, 2020 9:57 AM CST

Youths 16 to 18 should be allowed to preregister to vote ahead of elections, House of Delegates says

Youths between ages 16 and 18 should be permitted to preregister to vote so they can cast ballots once they reach the legal voting age in their jurisdiction, the ABA House of Delegates said at the midyear meeting Monday in Austin, Texas.

Feb 17, 2020 6:03 PM CST

Chief Justice Roberts praises Merrick Garland in report with ‘timely subtext’

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. praised failed Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland for his volunteer work last Tuesday in his 2019 Year-End Report on the Federal Judiciary.

Jan 6, 2020 11:12 AM CST

High school advocates renew hope for answers to civil rights-era mysteries

Racially motivated murders and crimes committed more than six decades ago during the civil rights era remain unsolved and unprosecuted. In most cases, victims and their families got no information, no justice and no closure. Ever wonder what happened? High school students in New Jersey did, and they did something about it, prompting government actions that may soon lead to the release of information about these cold cases.

Nov 1, 2019 12:50 AM CDT

Justice Sotomayor plants seeds of change in new children’s book

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor got the idea for her new children’s book, Just Ask!: Be Different, Be Brave, Be You more than 30 years ago.

Sep 6, 2019 10:44 AM CDT

ABA advances the rule of law to assure fairness, justice, and ultimately, our democracy

As lawyers, we see the rule of law as the promise that we live in a nation of laws that are justly and fairly enforced. These laws protect our freedom, rights and property from both government intrusion and the unlawful acts of others. The rule of law also requires that each of us, no matter whether elected official or private person in civil society, remains accountable under law so that justice will be done.

Sep 1, 2019 3:10 AM CDT

Entrepreneurs educate by gamifying the law

Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney gamifies law for a new generation, but there are others on the market hoping to educate and captivate, including the State Bar of Texas’ Objection! Your Honor; iCivics’ online educational games such as Do I Have a Right? and Chicago lawyer April Preyar’s board game Trials & Triumph.

Jul 1, 2019 2:30 AM CDT

Sowing seeds: Artika Tyner uses education to nurture social change

A trio of early influences led Artika Tyner to what she calls her life mission—promoting literacy, training the next generation of leaders and advancing diversity and inclusion as the founder of the Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute.

Jul 1, 2019 1:20 AM CDT

What’s one thing you wish the public understood about the US legal system?

What did the Declaration of Independence do? Nonresidents who want to become U.S. citizens are expected to know. When the ABA recently posed the same question to a sample of…

Jun 27, 2019 12:00 PM CDT

Advocates sue Rhode Island to require civics ed for students

Students and their parents are suing Rhode Island, alleging the state has failed to prepare young people for the rigors of citizenship.

Jun 1, 2019 1:50 AM CDT

Our Civics IQ: ABA survey demonstrates people need better understanding of our democracy

Less than half of the U.S. public knows that John Roberts is Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, while almost one-quarter think it is Ruth Bader Ginsburg and 16 percent believe it is Clarence Thomas. The ABA Survey of Civic Literacy asked 1,000 adults in the United States 17 questions about the law, the U.S. Constitution and the rights of both citizens and noncitizens.

Jun 1, 2019 12:15 AM CDT

How can Americans get the civic literacy they need for a functioning democracy?

ABA President Bob Carlson addresses gaps in public knowledge of history and government uncovered by the first ABA Survey of Civic Literacy 2019 in this special episode of Asked and Answered.

May 20, 2019 6:00 AM CDT

16% of Americans think Clarence Thomas is chief justice, ABA civics survey finds

In a new survey, the ABA highlighted gaps in Americans’ knowledge of history and government as part of the ABA Survey of Civic Literacy 2019, the first comprehensive survey of its kind by the association. The results of the nationwide poll of 1,000 people were released Wednesday to mark Law Day, a national event established by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1958 to recognize the country’s commitment to the rule of law.

May 1, 2019 6:00 AM CDT

Law Day 2019: Free speech, free press, free society

May 1, 2019, will mark the 61st anniversary of Law Day, which is held every year as a celebration of the rule of law in our society. A planning guide features tips for organizing an effective Law Day event.

Apr 1, 2019 12:07 AM CDT