Supreme Court LIVE - Educational Materials

The following materials are being provided to teachers and students to help them prepare for the oral arguments that will be presented during Supreme Court LIVE programs. These include both general background materials about the legal system and materials specific to the cases that will be heard. Participating classes are encouraged to review these materials in preparation for the oral arguments. The volunteer attorney teams that will be visiting participating classes in advance of the program will also rely on these materials. For questions or further information, or if you need assistance accessing the documents posted below, please don’t hesitate to contact the program coordinator at 907-264-0879. Thank you.

ACCESS TO VIDEO & AUDIO RECORDINGS OF THE PROGRAM FOR PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS

The oral arguments presented during the Juneau Supreme Court LIVE program on Friday, September 17, 2010, will be filmed and made available for viewing or listening as follows:

• A video of the program is scheduled to be replayed on KTOO’s 360 North program on Sunday, September 26, at 5:00 PM.
• An audio recording of the program is available on KTOO’s website: http://gavelalaska.org/alaska-supreme-court-coverage/.
• Teachers may access a video recording of the program by contacting Margaret Newman, 264-0864 or mnewman@appellate.courts.state.ak.us.

UNDERSTANDING OUR LEGAL SYSTEM

I. SOURCES OF LAW

• A. The Constitutions
  1. The United States Constitution
  2. The Alaska Constitution
• B. Statutory Law
  1. Federal Statutes
  2. State Statutes
  3. Municipal Ordinances
• C. Administrative Law
  1.   Adoption & Effect of Rules
  2. Scope of Administrative Rules
• D. The Common Law
  1. Case Law as Common Law
  2.  Scope of the Common Law in Alaska
  3. The Importance of the Common Law

ACTIVITY I: Which Level of Government?

II. WHAT IS A COURT CASE?

• A. Civil Law
• B. Criminal Law

ACTIVITY II:  Civil or Criminal Laws?

III.  COURTS IN ALASKA

• A. Federal Courts
  1. U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska
  2. U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
  3. U.S.Supreme Court
• B. State Courts: The Alaska Court System
  1. Appellate Courts
     • i. Alaska Supreme Court
     • ii. Alaska Court of Appeals
  2. Trial Courts
     • i. Alaska Superior Court
     • ii. Alaska District Court

ACTIVITY III - A: Federal Court or State Court?

ACTIVITY III - B: Which State Court?

IV. UNDERSTANDING AN APPELLATE CASE

ACTIVITY IV: Analyzing a Case

V. HELPFUL RESOURCES

• A. www.icivics.org: The iCivics website(formerly Our Courts) features "Supreme Decision," an online game about the appellate process.  A great introduction to case analysis!
• B. www.landmarkcases.org: This popular website, sponsored by StreetLaw, Inc. and the U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society, includes descriptions and lessons on major U.S. Supreme Court decisions, along with tips for conducting moot courts in the classroom.

VI. Glossary

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Rev. 21 December 2011 © Alaska Court System www.courts.alaska.gov webmaster@courts.state.ak.us

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