Civic Education

Sotomayor and Gorsuch warn that misinformation and intolerance can threaten democracy

U.S. Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Neil M. Gorsuch warned of threats to U.S. democracy during a prerecorded Zoom event released Wednesday to promote civics information.

Apr 15, 2021 9:43 AM CDT

SCOTUSblog co-founder sees ‘zero practical chance’ that ‘faithless electors’ will swing election for Trump

As court losses mount for President Donald Trump, his campaign may take another tack: Persuade presidential electors committed to President-elect Joe Biden to switch their votes to Trump. Will it work?

Nov 30, 2020 12:57 PM CST

Federal judge rules students have no right to civics education while warning of peril to democracy

A Rhode Island federal judge has ruled students in the state have no constitutional right to a civics education, even as he warned of a “deep flaw” in education priorities. Judge William Smith said they seem to recognize “American democracy is in peril.”

Oct 23, 2020 10:13 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Judge blocks postal changes; bedroom backdrop for SCOTUS justice’s Constitution Day remarks

Federal judge blocks US Postal Service changes Ruling from the bench Thursday, U.S. District Judge Stanley Bastian of Yakima, Washington, blocked U.S. Postal Service changes that slowed mail delivery. Ruling in a suit by 14 states, Bastian said the plaintiffs have shown a politically motivated attack on the efficiency of…

Sep 17, 2020 4:34 PM CDT

More law firms are moving to make Election Day a paid holiday

As a growing number of large law firms offer their employees paid time off to participate in the Nov. 3 presidential election, the legal community may wonder, is this a one-time holiday or a lasting trend?

Sep 9, 2020 9:23 AM CDT

Your vote is your voice

“As we approach the 2020 presidential election, many Americans are calling it the most consequential of their lifetime. But all elections are important, whether for school boards, local judges, town councils or the U.S. Senate,” writes ABA President Judy Perry Martinez.

Aug 1, 2020 1:35 AM CDT

More than half of Americans support online voting during COVID-19 pandemic, second ABA civics survey shows

As the COVID-19 pandemic quickly spread across the country, the ABA pivoted its second annual survey of civic literacy to gauge Americans’ support for online voting, as well as their thoughts on how the government should respond to a national emergency.

May 1, 2020 3:56 PM CDT

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