MEDIA ADVISORY CONTACT: Stuart Ditzen, Assistant for Communications 215-560-6300 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE http://www.pacourts.us PA Supreme Court to Host a Teacher Institute on the Judiciary Philadelphia Area Teachers to Attend Day of Civics Education PHILADELPHIA, March 5, 2009 - The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and First Lady of Pennsylvania Judge Marjorie O. Rendell will host a "Teacher Institute on the Judiciary" on Friday March 6, 2009, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. in the chambers of the Supreme Court in Room 456 of City Hall. Media coverage is invited. Approximately 30 to 40 teachers are expected to attend an intensive and interactive day of learning and discussion about the state and federal courts and constitutions (see attached schedule of events). Speakers will include Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille; Judge Rendell of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; Judge John E. Jones III of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, and Judge C. Darnell Jones II, former president judge of Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, now a member of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The goal of the Teacher Institute is to promote greater emphasis on civics education in the classroom and to foster a better understanding of the role of the courts and the judiciary in a democratic society. Teachers from Philadelphia, Norristown, Glenside, Media, Rosemont, Langhorne, Lansdale and other communities in the Philadelphia area have registered to participate. One of the highlights of the program will be a 1:10 p.m. mock Supreme Court argument. Participants will include Supreme Court Justice Jane Cutler Greenspan, Superior Court Judge Correale F. Stevens, Commonwealth Court Judge Doris A. Smith-Ribner, President Judge Pamela Pryor Dembe of Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, Philadelphia Bar Chancellor Sayde J. Ladov, and former Pennsylvania Bar Association president Andrew F. Susko. The Teacher Institute is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the court's Judicial Independence Commission and the Pennsylvania Coalition for Representative Democracy (PennCORD), a partnership of the Governor's Office of the First Lady, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the National Constitution Center and the state Department of Education. ###
SUPREME COURT of PENNSYLVANIA TEACHER INSTITUTE ON THE JUDICIARY City Hall, Philadelphia March 6, 2009 8:30 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
8:30 a.m. Registration and Pre-test 9:00 a.m. Welcome and Introduction 9:30 a.m. Warm-up Exercise Schedule of Events Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Judge Marjorie O. Rendell Third Circuit Court of Appeals, First Lady of Pennsylvania Judge John E. Jones, III United States District Court Judge C. Darnell Jones, II United States District Court Moderator Stephen M. Feiler, Ph.D. Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts David K. Trevaskis, Esq., Pennsylvania Bar Association Attendees will get to know each other through an introductory group exercise comparing the United States and Pennsylvania Constitutions. 10:00 a.m. Judicial Review and Democracy: A Paradox or a Contradiction Dr. Francis Graham Lee, St Joseph s University Professor Lee will discuss the federal and state constitutional bases for judicial review through examination of historic cases. His comments will include an exposition of the differences between original intent, interpretivism, and non-interpretivism. 11:00 a.m. Break 11:30 a.m. Changing Roles: The Old, Modern and Contemporary Courts and their Impact on Federalism Dr. Bruce A. Murphy, Lafayette College This session will provide an examination of how the United States Supreme Court has changed its role over the course of history and show how this affects the division of powers between the federal and state governments. Discussion of the incorporation of the Bill of Rights nationally will be supplemented with examination of the Declaration of Rights in the Pennsylvania Constitution and the national resurgence of state constitutions being used by state courts as a basis of protecting individual rights. LAW LIBRARY
12:30 p.m. Luncheon LAW LIBRARY 1:10 p.m. Mock Pennsylvania Supreme Court Argument Justice Jane Cutler Greenspan, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Judge Correale F. Stevens, Superior Court of Pennsylvania Judge Doris A. Smith Ribner, Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania President Judge Pamela Pryor Dembe, Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas Andrew F. Susko, Esq., White and Williams, LLP, Philadelphia, PA Bernard W. Smalley, Sr., Esq., Anapol Schwartz, Philadelphia, PA Sayde Joy Ladov, Esq., Offit Kurman, Philadelphia, PA Scott B. Cooper, Esq., Blank Rome, LLP, Philadelphia, PA David K. Trevaskis, Esq., Pennsylvania Bar Association, Moderator The group will examine a Supreme Court of Pennsylvania decision, Theodore v. Delaware Valley, through a mock argument guided by experienced attorneys and judicial officers from all levels of Pennsylvania courts. The arguments will be followed by remarks from the jurists. 2:30 p.m. Roundtable: Judges on Judging Justice James J. Fitzgerald, III, Moderator Justice Jane Cutler Greenspan, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Judge Correale F. Stevens, Superior Court of Pennsylvania Judge Doris A. Smith Ribner, Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania President Judge Pamela Pryor Dembe, Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas Judge Richard M. Cappelli, Magisterial District Judge 3:30 p.m. Evaluation/Post-test
PARTNERS PENNSYLVANIA COMMISSION ON JUDICIAL INDEPENDENCE Fairness, Impartiality, Accountability
Philadelphia Teacher Institute Attendees, March 2009 First Last Organization Title City Ronald Ostroff The Anderson School Teacher Norristown Tim Woods A. Philip Randolph Career Academy civics teacher Philadelphia Terri King Abraham Lincoln HS Social Studies Chair Philadelphia Rochelle Rubin Abraham Lincoln HS Teacher Philadelphia Ceatrice Beard Abraham Lincoln HS Asst Principal Philadelphia Ken Martin Academy at Palumbo teacher Philadelphia Angela Clinton Annenberg Foundation Trust at Sunnylands Program Manager Philadelphia Gregg Volz Chester-Upland School District Stoneleigh Fellow Media Kamala Kandi Constitution High School Science Teacher Philadelphia Eugene Woehr Dobbins HS Department Head Philadelphia Angela Melvin-Schell Glenside Elementary Glenside Elementary Glenside Kelly Cenciola Harriton High School Social Studies Teacher Rosemont Mary Padilla Katharine Gibbs School Criminal Justice Instructor Norristown April Andrews Katharine Gibbs School Professor Betta Kolansky McCall School Teacher Philadelphia David Heaney Neshaminy School District Lead Teacher for Social Studies Langhorne Damon Moreland New Media Charter School Teacher Philadelphia Elizabeth Newton North Penn High School Social Studies Teacher Lansdale Colin Likens North Penn High School Social Studies Teacher Lansdale Deanna Burch Olney High School West Social Studies Teacher Philadelphia Reginald Jordan Phila School District substitute Philadelphia Melvin Garrison Phila School District Project Manager Philadelphia Dennis Murphy Philadelphia Electrical & Technology Charter HS Social Studies Teacher Philadelphia Arkie Padilla Philadelphia Prison System Correctional Officer Jan Sklaroff Radnor School District substitute Maria Spagnola The Anderson School civics teacher Eagleville Myrtle Bastien University City High School Social Studies Teacher Philadelphia Jade Watkins University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Seth Seligson ACE Program--Philly Attorney Volunteer