The program, officially known as "Operation Protect and Defend - Lawyers and Judges Committed to Civic Education in the Public Schools," began as a pilot program during the spring of 2003. The program is an outgrowth from a concern expressed by U.S. District Judge Frank C. Damrell, Jr. in April 2002. Judge Damrell gave a speech in the United States Courthouse in which he cited the statistics showing that a significant percentage of high school and college students lack a basic understanding of the Constitution and American government. He believed there was a need to connect students in a real life manner to the Constitution and their government.

A small ad hoc committee of judges and lawyers began meeting to seek ways to address this disturbing trend.The committee was guided by the belief that lawyers and judges, who take an oath to "protect and defend" the Constitution of the United States as a condition of bar admission, have a special responsibility to educate future voters and jurors. The ad hoc, which included Judge Damrell, U.S. District Judge Morrison C. England, Jr., Third District Court of Appeal Presiding Justice Arthur Scotland, U.S Magistrate Judge Kim Mueller, Joseph Genshlea of Weintraub, Genshlea, Chediak & Sproul, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Robin Taylor, began consulting with school superintendents, principals, teachers and students.

The ad hoc committee sought support from Sacramento County Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association, which enthusiastically sponsored the Program and provided representatives of various bar associations to form a 28-member steering committee. A teacher advisory committee, consisting of teachers from the Sacramento and San Juan Unified School Districts, also joined the Steering Committee to lend educational expertise in developing programs and facilitating the Program.

From the beginning, Operation Protect and Defend has sought to target average high school students rather than students in honors or advanced civics or history programs. The committee's rationale was that these students were more likely to benefit from additional programs related to civics and government. To reach this goal, the Steering Committee developed a three phase program. The first phase students are taught a curriculum created for the students by the Committee. The World War II Japanese American internment provides this year's topic. The second phase, students are encouraged to enter the Story of America essay contest, which is based on the curriculum. The prizes for the essay contest range from $250 to $1,000.The third phase, the Dialogue on America, consists of teams of judges, lawyers and law students who visit the participating classrooms to discuss the issues raised by the materials.The students whose essays are selected by the Steering Committee are recognized at the Law Day Awards Dinner.

During the first year of the Program the response by both students, lawyers and judges exceeded the organizers' expectations. The essay contest received nearly 300 essays from students. A lecture by author Mark Curriden, whose book Contempt of Court was utilized in the first two years' curriculum, was attended by approximately 600 students. Forty-five lawyers and 31 judges from the federal and state courts visited 37 government classes for the Dialogue on America sessions. This response has been equaled every year since.

In addition to the invaluable knowledge, expertise and experience the Bench and Bar provide to the schools, this Program affords judges and lawyers an opportunity to interact in a non-courtroom environment. The response from both judges and lawyers about this aspect of the Program has been overwhelming positive.

This year the Program will visit the following schools: Hiram Johnson High School; Kennedy High School; Luther Burbank High School; McClatchy High School; Rio Americano High School; Sacramento High School; and Valley High School during February and March of 2006. The students will complete their essays by April and will be awarded their prizes at the May 4, 2006 Law Day Dinner.

The continued success of the Protect and Defend the Constitution Program rests with the continued participation and generosity of its volunteers. Every year the Program seeks new volunteers. If you are interested in participating in the 2006 Protect and Defend the Constitution Program or have any questions please contact Alf Brandt at (916) 319-2761 or Alf.Brandt@asm.ca.gov.

November / December 2005