2008 Agenda

By participating in this institute, teachers will learn:

Did you ever wonder why certain types of offenses end up in municipal court rather than circuit court? Participate in mini mock trials and find out how Wisconsin municipal courts handle different types of ordinance violations.
How to use the case study approach to help students understand the facts, issues, arguments, and Court's decision in a Wisconsin landmark case, State v. Mitchell.
What it’s like to be a Supreme Court justice. The position carries great responsibility and power but imagine having six colleagues edit your every word. Hear from the Chief Justice about life on the Court and learn how she keeps her personal beliefs separate from her decisions in cases.
The toughest part of the trial judge’s job: criminal sentencing. Become the judge in a sentencing exercise based on an actual case, and weigh the defendant’s conduct and the victim’s loss. Compare your decision with that of a judge who decides daily whether a defendant’s actions merit prison.
How the Supreme Court sifts through the 1,000 petitions filed each year to choose the approximately 100 cases it will hear. Review real petitions, follow the criteria you will be given, and see if you can spot the cases that our state Supreme Court accepted.
Americans turn to courts to resolve disputes in a peaceful and orderly manner. Learn how to use significant primary and secondary resources on the role of courts in the American and Wisconsin political system.
Who owns our garbage after we take it outside? Garbage! Among the food scraps and coffee grounds, we discard many items that contain personal information. Participate in a moot court and find out what the Wisconsin Supreme Court said on this fascinating case.

Thursday, March 6, 2008

[all sessions on Thursday [except reception] and Friday will take place at the Wisconsin Bar center]

12:30 – 1:00	Registration	Lobby
1:00 – 1:30	Introductions, overview of objectives and agenda Presenters: Diana Hess, Dee Runaas	Wingra Room
1:30 – 2:45	History, constitutional powers of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. How the Wisconsin Supreme Court fits into the overall Wisconsin court system. Presenter: Professor Walter Dickey, University of Wisconsin Law School (TBC)
2:45 – 3:00	Break
3:00 – 4:45	Municipal Court Lesson Did you ever wonder why certain types of offenses end up in municipal court and not circuit court? Why do different municipal courts handle different types of ordinance violations? This exercise is designed to promote a better understanding of the types of ordinance violations these courts handle and to appreciate the decision-making process that determines which court will hear certain types of cases. Presenters: Dr. Diana Hess, Hon. Derek Mosley, Hon. Phil Freeberg
4:45 – 5:30	Check in at hotel
6:00 - 7:30	Reception with Justices of the Wisconsin Supreme Court Location: Hilton Hotel, Capitol Club Room, downtown
7:30	Dinner on your own

Friday, March 7, 2008

8:30 – 8:45	Continental Breakfast & Overview of Day’s Activities Diana Hess	Wingra Room
8:45 – 10:00	Taking and Deciding Cases: The process the Wisconsin Supreme Court uses to select which cases to hear. After an explanation of the criteria the Court uses to select the approximately 100 cases it will hear from the more than 1,000 petitions for review filed each term, we will participate in an activity to apply those criteria to actual petitions for review. Presenters: Supreme Court Commissioner Julie Rich, Appellate Public Defender Ellen Henak
10:00 – 10:15	Break
10:15 – 12:00	Using the case study approach to teach about law and the courts. Focusing on State v. Mitchell and Wisconsin v. Mitchell, participants will learn a variety of ways to use the case study approach to help students understand the facts, issues, arguments, and Court's decision in a case. In preparation for this session, participants will be sent the Wisconsin and U.S. Supreme Court decisions in the case to read in advance. Presenter: Lee Arbetman
12:00 – 12:40	Lunch (includes break)
12:40 – 2:30	Mock Trial and Sentencing Exercise Unlike other court hearings, sentencings are often front-page news. These difficult and emotional hearings are the public’s window on the courts. This exercise is designed to promote a better understanding of sentencing through reenactment of a sentencing hearing. After a primer on Truth in Sentencing, participants will step into a judge’s shoes to sentence a woman in a drunken driving homicide case. Based upon an actual case, the scenario requires some very difficult decisions and demonstrates why sentencing is, for many judges, the toughest part of the job. Presenters: Hon. Ralph Ramirez; Attorneys TBD & Eric Schulenburg; Sheri Carter and Tom McGlamery.	Wingra
2:30 – 2:45	Break
2:45 – 4:00	Fourth Amendment principles and precedents to set the stage for the moot court. Participate in an interactive session designed to prepare participants for the moot court. Presenters: Lee Arbetman, Atty. Ellen Henak
4:00 – 4:15	Break
4:15 – 5:30	Resources This session will focus on available resources to use in the classroom. One group will examine landmark cases in the Technology Center while the other group will watch a video developed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. After 30 minutes, the groups will change places.	Technology Center
5:30	Dinner on your own

Saturday, March 8, 2008

[Morning sessions are at the Wisconsin Supreme Court. You will need to check out of your room before the first session begins.]

9:00	Overview of Day’s Activities Diana Hess	Wisconsin Supreme Court
9:05 – 10:05	A Day in the Life of a Justice Presenter: Justice Louis B. Butler, Jr. (TBC)
10:05 – 1:00	Moot Court of State v. Stevens (1985) Presenters: Attorney Thomas Balistreri, who argued this case before the Wisconsin Supreme Court, & Attorney Rob Henak. Stacy Forster, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, will work with the teachers assigned to be “journalists.” Justice N. Patrick Crooks will work with the moot court justices. Diana Hess will facilitate the moot court. (TBC)	[Includes breaks]
1:15 – 2:15	Lunch	The Chop House, Hilton
2:15 – 3:00	Evaluation and Wrap-up. Presenters: Diana Hess, Dee Runaas & Amanda Todd
3:00	Depart

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