Since 2006, the Federal Judicial Center, in partnership with the American Bar Association Division for Public Education, has hosted Federal Trials and Great Debates, an annual summer institute for teachers of history, law, and government. Participants from across the country come to Washington, D.C., each June to meet with federal judges, scholars, and curriculum experts to examine the history of the federal judiciary and to study three historic cases in the federal trial courts. The materials on these cases, while designed for teachers, are valuable resources for all seeking to learn more about the role the federal judiciary has played in our nation’s history.

In 2020, the ABA and FJC partnered to hold a two-session virtual series about teaching Chew Heong v. United States: Chinese Exclusion and the Federal Courts and another series about Gobitis v. Minersville School District and Barnette v. West Virginia State Board of Education: The Flag Salute Cases. For each topic, the first session featured a scholar discussing the cases in their historical context and the second session featured experienced teachers sharing strategies for teaching the cases. Click here to watch recordings of the Chew Heong series and here to watch recordings of the Flag Salute series.

In 2021, the ABA and FJC created a four-video series on judicial independence. The series featured an overview of the topic and an examination of three key cases by a law professor, a discussion with two federal judges, and an analysis of primary sources by two FJC historians. Click here to watch recordings of the Federal Trials and Great Debates in U.S. History: Judicial Independence series.

For more information about Federal Trials and Great Debates, go to the American Bar Association Division for Public Education website.