The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee has launched a website designed to help students, teachers and the general public learn more about the federal judicial system.
The website is part of the court’s civics and outreach program designed to enhance public awareness and understanding of the role and function of the federal judiciary in the American government system.
Visitors can find information about America’s founding documents, learn about the rule of law and how courts resolve disputes, watch videos of judges telling about their path to the bench, learn the difference in the jurisdictions of the federal and state courts, learn about the naturalization process, read about landmark cases in the Eastern District of Tennessee and take a quiz about the federal judiciary.
The jurisdiction of the Eastern District of Tennessee court covers 41 counties from Bristol to Chattanooga. Development of the webpage was led by U.S. Magistrate Judge Clifton Corker of the court’s Greeneville office, with input by court personnel, educators and lawyers.
The idea for the webpage evolved from the establishment of a civics and outreach committee by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. That court is composed of all the federal courts in Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan.
Part of that committee’s direction was that each district court within the Sixth Circuit should establish a similar committee. Judge Curtis Collier of Chattanooga was named by Chief Judge Varlan to head the committee for the Eastern District of Tennessee court.
Judge Collier said the website should help enhance the public’s understanding and knowledge of the essential role and function the federal judiciary plays in the American form of government. He expressed hope that those who use the website will gain a better appreciation and understanding of the federal court system and thereby become more informed and engaged members of society.
Source: Eastern District of Tennessee court