U.S. Courts Podcasts

Building your knowledge of the federal courts.

Trial by Jury
Trial by Jury is a right guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment of the Constitution. In this segment of Founding Fundamentals, we focus on the phrase "impartial jury," also known as a jury of your peers.

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Impartial Judiciary
Explaining judicial independence, which allows judges to make decisions according to the rule of law, without the pressure of public opinion or the influence of private citizens and public officials.

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Judicial Review
When it comes to legal disputes, the courts are the final deciders of what the Constitution means. This authority – known as judicial review – gives the Supreme Court and federal courts the authority to interpret the Constitution.

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Separation of Powers
Separation of powers is the fundamental way our government balances power so that one part of the government doesn't overpower another. The idea is that each branch of government has its own roles and areas of authority.

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Helping teachers connect their students with the federal courts.

Naturalization Ceremonies
In this segment of Bench to Blackboard, we discuss student participation in naturalization ceremonies, which can be formative experiences that deepen students' understanding and appreciation of their own rights and responsibilities. Naturalization ceremonies often are open to the public and offer a variety of ways for students to participate.

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Open Doors to Federal Courts
Courtroom protocol. Precedent. Jury service. Due process. These can be difficult concepts to present in an interactive way in the classroom. But they come to life through Open Doors to Federal Courts, an annual initiative that gives students hands-on experience with our judicial process.

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