Civics Education

U.S. District Court Outreach Program for Middle School and High School Students

Ninth Circuit Civics Contest

Educational Resources

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington offers a variety of educational outreach programs for students at each of our three court locations.

The Outreach Program was developed to heighten students’ understanding of the federal courts, individual rights, jury service and to acquaint them with future career opportunities in the federal courts. At each of our court locations, students are welcome to participate in a mock trial, observe court proceedings, take a tour, witness a naturalization ceremony, or visit with a Judge and/or a representative of the U.S. Marshals Service, Federal Defenders, U.S. Attorney’s Office and other federal agencies.

Request a Virtual Visit:

The virtual simulation of a criminal case - arraignment, jury selection, witness testimony, evidence presentation, and sentencing - provide students with the opportunity to actively participate as attorneys, jurors, and witnesses. With the supplied instructions educators are free to facilitate the flow of the simulation, or they may contact the outreach coordinator to request a facilitator from the court.

Simulation Instructions - Virtual

Narrator Script - Virtual

Student Script - Virtual

*Simulation instructions and scripts have been updated for ease of use in a virtual setting. In-person instructions and scripts are available upon request.

To schedule a VIRTUAL visit complete the VIRTUAL VISIT REQUEST FORM and submit to Jennifer Harris at Jennifer_Harris@waed.uscourts.gov (link sends e-mail) or contact at 509-458-3419 with questions.

When Duty Calls: Why Exercising the Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship is Important to Me

The Ninth Circuit hosts an annual essay and video contest open to high school students in the Western United States and Pacific Islands. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Washington hosts a local component to this Circuit-wide contest whereby students residing in one of the following counties may submit their essay and/or video for local judging: Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Columbia, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Stevens, Walla Walla, Whitman, and Yakima. The top three finishers in the essay and video competitions at the district level will go on to compete in the Ninth Circuit contest. Local winners will receive $1,000 for 1^st place, $500 for 2^nd place and $250 for 3^rd place. For more information about this district contest, please contact Jennifer Harris at (509) 458-3419, or by email at civicscontest@waed.uscourts.gov.


Flyer	Contest Rules	Essay/Video Submission

Previous Winners


		2024 Contest Theme & Winners "70 Years Later—The Legacy of Brown v. Board of Education.” 1st Place - $1000 Luke Blue (12th grade) & Elenaor Weitz (10th grade), Mt. Spokane High School, Mead, WA 2nd Place - $500 Autumn Kern (12th grade), Mt. Spokane High School, Mead, WA 3rd Place - $250 & 3RD PLACE 9th Circuit $1,000 Klara Hulick (12th grade), Hanford High School, Richland, WA

		2023 Contest Theme & Winners "The 28th Amendment - What Should Our Next Amendment Be?” 1st Place - $1000 & GRAND PRIZE WINNER 9th Circuit $3,000 Luke Blue (11th grade), Mt. Spokane High School, Mead, WA 2nd Place - $500 Leo Rangel (10th grade), Hanford High School, Richland, WA 3rd Place - $250 Victoria Hausman (12th grade), Mt. Spokane High School, Mead, WA

MOCK TRIALS

CANDID CONVERSATIONS

COURT PROCEEDINGS/COURT TOURS

The 90-minute simulation of a criminal case (arraignment, jury selection, witness testimony, evidence presentation, and sentencing) provide students with the opportunity to actively participate as attorneys, jurors, and witnesses. After this program, students are afforded the opportunity to engage in a question and answer session with a Federal Judge.

The centerpiece of this program is a candid conversation with a Federal Judge and volunteer attorneys about Constitutional issues raised by young people. The preparatory classroom activity sets the stage for meaningful discussion by helping students identify and articulate Constitutional questions that matter to them.

Students are welcome to sit in the courtroom gallery and observe court proceedings that are taking place on the day of their visit. As they tour the courtrooms, students are afforded the opportunity for hands-on experience with courtroom technologies and may learn about careers within the judiciary as they interact with court staff, such as court reporters, courtroom deputies and law clerks, as well as representatives from the U.S. Marshals Service, Federal Defenders of Eastern Washington and the United States Attorney’s Office.

"This experience brought our past year's education and studies full circle and really put the judicial system into perspective for us."

"Thank you very much for the educuational program you asssembled for my four classes. They learned a ton about the federal court system that learning from our AP Text, various videos, and my direct instruction cannot fully convey. I personally was particularly intrigued by the US Marshal and his bomb dog, and well as the Assistant US Attorney. What a treat!"

To schedule a visit to any of our three court locations (Spokane, Yakima or Richland), complete the OUTREACH REQUEST FORM and submit to Jennifer Harris at Jennifer_Harris@waed.uscourts.gov (link sends e-mail) or contact at 509-458-3419 with questions.

Understanding the Federal Courts

Federal District Courts
The United States district courts are the trial courts of the federal court system. Within limits set by Congress and the Constitution, the district courts have jurisdiction to hear nearly all categories of federal cases, including both civil and criminal matters. Every day hundreds of people across the nation are selected for jury duty and help decide some of these cases.
There are 94 federal judicial districts, including at least one district in each state, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Three territories of the United States -- the Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands -- have district courts that hear federal cases, including bankruptcy cases.

Federal Courts in American Government
The three branches of the federal government — legislative, executive, and judicial — operate within a constitutional system known as "checks and balances." This means that although each branch is formally separate from the other two, the Constitution often requires cooperation among the branches. Federal laws, for example, are passed by Congress and signed by the President. The judicial branch, in turn, has the authority to decide the constitutionality of federal laws and resolve other disputes over them, but judges depend upon the executive branch to enforce court decisions.

Federal Courts & Congress
The Constitution gives Congress the power to create federal courts other than the Supreme Court and to determine their jurisdiction. It is Congress, not the judiciary, that controls the type of cases that may be addressed in the federal courts.
Congress has three other basic responsibilities that determine how the courts will operate. First, it decides how many judges there should be and where they will work. Second, through the confirmation process, Congress determines which of the President's judicial nominees ultimately become federal judges. Third, Congress approves the federal courts' budget and appropriates money for the judiciary to operate. The judiciary's budget is a very small part — substantially less than one percent — of the entire federal budget.

Federal Courts & the Executive Branch
Under the Constitution, the President appoints federal judges with the "advice and consent" of the Senate. The President usually consults senators or other elected officials concerning candidates for vacancies on the federal courts. The President's power to appoint new federal judges is not the judiciary's only interaction with the executive branch. The Department of Justice, which is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes and for representing the government in civil cases, is the most frequent litigator in the federal court system. Several other executive branch agencies affect the operations of the courts. The United States Marshals Service, for example, provides security for federal courthouses and judges, and the General Services Administration builds and maintains federal courthouses.

Our District's History

Creation and Constitutional Authority
Washington State moved from territorial status to statehood in 1889. Until that time, territorial Supreme Court Justices "rode the circuit" and met only once or twice a year in Olympia to hear appeals from their district court decisions.

The Eastern District of Washington was formed by the March 2, 1905 "Act to Divide Washington into Two Judicial Districts" (Chapter 1305, Session III, 58th Congress). At that time, the state was then divided into two federal districts and a separate judge, Judge Edward Whitson, was appointed to the Eastern District.

iCivics

iCivics is a web site providing games, information and teaching materials designed to increase students' civic knowledge and participation.

iCivics link

Infographics

Structure of the Federal Courts

What is the Job of a Federal Judge?

What is the Job of a Magistrate Judge?

Cases Handled in Federal Courts

How a Criminal Case Moves Through the Courts

Grand Juries vs Trial Juries

Steps in a Criminal Trial

Sentencing Considerations