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Guest Column

Education on the rule of law

By JUDGE STEPHEN O. RUSHING
Published April 30, 2007

Editor's note: This is the first in a series of guest columns submitted by members of the Hernando County Bar Association in observation of Law Week, which begins today.

The theme for Law Week 2007 is "Liberty Under Law: Empowering Youth, Assuring Democracy." Law Week is a national event set aside to acknowledge the rule of law and to underscore how the law and our legal process have contributed to the freedoms all Americans share.

Because our nation's future is literally in the hands of our country's youth, this year's theme is especially timely because it is vitally important that America's next generation be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and appreciate our liberty, our nation's history, our constitutional rights and the way democracy impacts our lives every day.

To keep our republic healthy, teenagers must understand the structure and function of our government and have a commitment to the fundamental values and principles of our American constitutional republic.

Unfortunately, there is growing evidence that many of today's youth are lacking in basic constitutional, political and civic knowledge, and that our youth's interest in public affairs, knowledge of political issues and positive attitudes toward government are in decline.

For example, a recent nationwide survey of 1, 700 young Americans by the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement found that 56 percent of youths didn't know that only U.S. citizens can vote in elections. Only 30 percent could correctly name any member of President Bush's Cabinet, and 82 percent of those named Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. (But that shouldn't be surprising, since Florida ranks 39th among the states whose eligible voters actually cast ballots, and 49th for residents who participate in civic activities.)

However, I am optimistic about several promising programs and initiatives with Florida students who are dedicated to "Empowering Youth, Assuring Democracy."

As a starting point, one bright spot is that during this year's Law Week thousands of volunteer attorneys and judges in bar associations across our state will present mock trials for schoolchildren, visit local schools to teach about the rule of law, offer free "Ask-A-Lawyer" programs, appear on radio and television shows, and present numerous awards and scholarships. Additionally, thousands of elementary and secondary students will visit the courts to observe court sessions and explore the administration of justice in Florida. To learn about the law week activities of the Hernando County Bar Association, you may call the Law Week Coordinator at (352) 684-6545, or access the Web page www.thehernandobar.com.

Additionally, in an effort to address the lack of knowledge of civics and the basics of law and government, last year the Legislature passed a law requiring Florida students to take a semester of civics in middle school before progressing to high school.

Another bright spot is the Hernando County Teen Court program. I have volunteered as a Teen Court Judge for several years and am impressed by how Teen Court empowers students to participate in solutions to juvenile crime and provides hands-on experience with the legal process and our court system. First-time teen offenders who have committed a misdemeanor crime can have their cases diverted to the Teen Court prosecution alternative, where their cases are heard by a jury of their peers who volunteer to serve as attorneys, clerks, bailiffs or jurors. A local volunteer judge or attorney presides as judge and is the only adult involved directly in the sentencing trials.

The offenders must assume responsibility for their crimes and the consequences of their behavior through sanctions such as community service work, writing essays or letters of apology, jail tours, and other constructive punishment directed by the Teen Court jury. If the offender rejects or does not complete the teen jury sentence, their case is referred back for prosecution.

I also am encouraged by the new Justice Teaching Program spearheaded by Florida Supreme Court Chief Justice R. Fred Lewis, which creates a permanent structure for a comprehensive civics education initiative. This innovation partners judges and attorneys with every school in Florida to educate young people about the courts and the Constitution, and to provide a hands-on experience with the Florida Justice system.

In the 10 months since its creation, more than 3, 200 judges and attorneys have registered as Justice Teaching volunteers and more than 2, 000 of those volunteers have attended training sessions the chief justice personally presented across the state. I recently attended an excellent training session in Ocala and am pleased to have been assigned to work with Hernando High School. Class presentations and material on the value of core concepts, like the separation of powers, the interaction of the rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution, and the necessity of impartial juries, are included on the Justice Teaching Web page, at www.justiceteaching.org.

Although much more is needed, with the new legislation mandating ethics be taught in middle school and innovative initiatives where judges and attorneys interact with youth, like Law Week, Teen Court and Justice Teaching, I believe we are building the framework for revitalizing and empowering our youth to develop the knowledge and appreciation for our constitutional structure of government so that they can become effective citizens who understand the blessings of liberty that we enjoy as a nation.

Stephen O. Rushing is a Circuit Court judge in Brooksville. Guest columnists write their own opinions about subjects they choose, which do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.

[Last modified April 30, 2007, 01:52:30]