Teachers Law School (TLS) is a crash course in civics for teachers. Teachers are the guardians of democracy. Their knowledge, skills and enthusiasm provide students with the tools to understand the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.The goal of the program is to equip teachers with the knowledge and tools to foster an appreciation among their students for the value of the American civil and criminal legal systems. TLS is led by experienced lawyers, law professors, judges, and other members of the judicary.
The American Board of Trial Advocates Foundation (ABOTA) developed Teachers Law School to foster its mission of promoting and improving the American civil justice system and to preserve the Seventh Amendment right to civil jury trials for future generations.
Upcoming TLS Events
The next TLS event will be held Thursday, January 18, 2024 at the Fred D. Thompson Courthouse and Federal Building. For more information contact Lynda M. Hill at Lynda_Hill@tnmd.uscourts.gov.
Program Agenda
8:30 am – 9:00 am - Registration and Breakfast
9:00 am – 9:15 am - Welcome Remarks and Introductions of program personnel and teacher-attendees, Brian Moseley, President, Tennessee Chapter of ABOTA
9:10 am – 9:25 am - Civics: Why do they matter?, Hon. Eli Richardson, U.S. District Judge, Middle District of Tennessee and Lynda Motes Hill, Clerk of Court, Middle District of Tennessee
9:25 am – 10:15 am - The Federal and State Court Systems: what do they do?, Hon. Alistair E. Newbern, U.S. Magistrate Judge, Middle District of Tennessee and Hon. Neal McBrayer, Tennessee Court of Appeals
10:15 am – 10:30 am - Break
10:30 am – 11:45 am - Court Observation and Q&A
11:45 am – 1:00 pm - Working Lunch – Roundtable discussions with ABOTA and NBA members, judges, speakers and teachers
1:00 pm – 1:55 pm - Judicial Supremacy and its Challengers, Professor Brian Fitzpatrick, Vanderbilt Law School
1:55 pm – 2:00 pm - Break
2:00 pm – 3:00 pm - Court Observation and Q&A
3:00 pm – 3:10 pm - Break
3:10 pm – 4:00 pm - The First Amendment Goes to School: The Application of the Free Speech Clause in our schools, Professor David L. Hudson, Belmont College of Law
4:00 pm – 4:45 pm - Resources for Civics Instruction: What is out there for Teachers to Access?, Jennifer Hartsell Stockdale, U.S. District Court Pro Se Staff Attorney
4:45 pm – 5:00 pm - Closing Remarks, Hon. Eli Richardson, U.S. District Judge, Middle District of Tennessee