Civics Snapshot: Supreme Court Case Amicus Briefs

 

Upper School History Teacher Nancy Bowman’s course Civics: Understanding our Rights explores what it means to be a participant in a democratic society. What are our rights and responsibilities, to the government and one another? 

“Today’s world is shrinking, and we are all closely connected. I want to make sure that students understand our system of government, but also to get them to realize that they are a part of the fabric of our country,” Nancy said.

As a mid-semester project, Civics students research a case currently before the Supreme Court, present it to the class, and write an amicus brief on the case to accompany the presentation. One student analyzed Murthy vs. Missouri, a case that addresses the role that government officials can play in communicating with social media companies in the development and implementation of content moderation policies. The case specifically addresses content moderation of the COVID-19 vaccine and the impingement on First Amendment rights of people whose posts were removed from social media platforms.

 

Another student presented on City of Grants Pass, Oregon v. Gloria Johnson,  which challenges a city ordinance fining homeless for sleeping as excessively “cruel and unusual” punishment under the Eighth Amendment. The discussions of each case were lively as students grappled with the consequences of applying the Constitution to complex, real-world issues with many nuances. 

Building a more robust democratic society is also a key aim of the Civics class. To that end, Civics students posted their research on the Supreme Court cases in the Upper School, so that their fellow students can learn about the cases as well. Furthermore, Nancy submitted their written amicus briefs to the Supreme Court so that they are included in the discourse before the rulings come down this June. 

“I want them to see the class not just as an academic exercise, but one that has real world relevance,” Nancy said.