States that in the past juvenile courts afforded children with fewer rights than criminal courts accorded to adults accused of the same crimes. Reviews three U.S. Supreme Court cases that affirmed the constitutional rights of juvenile offenders and changed juvenile court proceedings. Discusses whether the juvenile death penalty violates…

Discussed is how the transfer of young offenders from the supposedly more benign juvenile court to the more punitive world of the adult criminal court is becoming the focus of renewed attention. (RM)

Presents a lesson in which students learn about the events that led to the court case "In re Gault" and recognize the importance of this case in establishing juvenile rights and court proceedings. Considers the unfairness of the court in denying Gerry Gault his due process rights. Provides two handouts. (CMK)

Argues that the concept of justice offers many opportunities for creative teaching. Observes that historical and contemporary examples can help students understand the relationship among justice, power, and law. Suggests role playing and the study of legal symbols as means of helping students learn to comprehend legal concepts. (SG)

Presents a directory of educational materials in the areas of justice and due process. Materials are listed in three categories--films, books, and project-created materials. For each entry, information is presented on title, author, publisher or developer, publication date, price, and annotation. (DB)

Presents the findings of a survey concerning secondary school students' views on justice. Reveals that most students associated justice with equality and fairness. Reports that students identified the African-American struggle as the most important U.S. justice issue. Describes students' views on improving their communities and coping with…

Offers a lesson in which students use the famous Gault decision in order to differentiate between the rights afforded to juveniles and adults. (JDH)

Examines the legacy of the liberal Warren Court of the 1950s and relates the pattern of legal decisions by the Warren Court to the relative conservatism and stability of most other sectors of society. (DB)

Examines the use of mediation and arbitration to settle civil disputes which have been traditionally settled through the courts. Discusses the advantages of alternative forms of dispute resolution. Describes the operations of dispute resolution centers and provides information about the individuals who serve as dispute mediators. (KO)

Offers an activity designed to illustrate the historical context of current legal questions relating to equal rights. The activity shows how the definition of equality has been expanded as a result of the continuous hard work of individuals and civil rights groups. (JDH)

Presented is the history of the Scottsboro case, in which eight Black men were found guilty and sentenced to death for raping two White women in Alabama. At the heart of the Scottsboro trials was the issue of whether the U.S. Constitution established standards of justice in state criminal trials. (RM)

Reviews court litigation during the 19th and 20th centuries in the United States which was blatantly political. Also questions the extent to which political influences in the courtroom pose a threat to the administration of justice. Cases include anarchist trials of the late 1800s, the Debs Case, and the Sacco-Vanzetti Case. (DB)

Provides a lesson plan on the issue of distributive justice, or fairness in the ways things are distributed among individuals and groups. Includes a student reading concerning a proposed guaranteed standard of living. Proposes an activity that calls for student discussion of a constitutional amendment that would offer such a guarantee. (SG)

Examines the ideas of justice, equality, and property as they are represented in the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Discusses how these ideas affect the way public schools operate and the lessons educators teach or don't teach about our society. Includes ideas for classroom activities. (JDH)

Presents a lesson plan calling upon students to consider U.S. law from a cross-cultural perspective. Explains that students participate in a mock hearing involving a culturally based defense to a charge of murder. Includes student handouts, arguments for and against the defense, objectives, and procedures. (SG)