Lesson Plans

» 8th Amendment
Death Penalty: Comparison of U.S. and Croatian Constitutions (Note: The cases in the Measure 11 section discuss whether mandatory sentencing is cruel and unusual punishment.)

» Civic Duties
Personal & Civic Responsibility: Students compare personal & civic responsibilities of citizens in the U.S. and Croatia.

4-week Unit Plan on Civic Leaders: Students will learn about the positive impacts individuals can have on their communities by researching American civic leaders. Each student profiles a unique individual, creates a timeline of key events in their life, and presents their findings to a nearby elementary school class. (Cynthia Murphy, Obsidian Middle School)

» Constitution Day
Visitor from Outer Space: Great with all age groups. The U.S. is overtaken by space aliens and learners are asked to ponder which rights are most important.

» Discrimination
State v. Dominguez-Martinez | Case: This lesson will help students examine the use of racial profiling as a law enforcement tool and explore the concept of unreasonable searches and seizures in Oregon. (Alisa Harvey, Sunset High School)

» Family Law
Child Abuse: Provides definitions and situations that constitute child abuse.

» Freedom of Speech/Press/Religion
Pangel v. Bend-LaPine School District: A student distributed an underground newspaper that advocated that students disrupt school by doing things like making bomb threats.

State ex rel Oregonian Publishing Co. v. Deiz: The court had to decide whether a juvenile’s court proceedings should be closed to the public and the press.

Cooper v. Eugene School District: This lesson explores Freedom of Religion and religious dress in Oregon’s public schools. (Craig Vattiat, Oregon City High School)

Free Speech in Oregon: Students will be able to identify, explain, and understand the right of free expression in the state of Oregon as it is written in the Oregon constitution, the role of the Oregon supreme court in interpreting, limiting, or expanding that right, and the difference between the freedoms guaranteed by our state constitution and the U.S. Constitution. (Richard English, Parkrose High School)

» Immigration
Immigration Lesson (5 different activities): Students investigate the themes of industrialization and immigration through readings, discussions, and viewing of art, photography and film. Other resources: Primary source photo activity (Jaimie Roderick, Obsidian Middle School)

» Mandatory Sentencing (Measure 11)
You be the Judge | Handout | General Info | Measure 11: Gives students Measure 11 scenarios in which they must determine the charge and the sentence under Measure 11.

State of Oregon v. Thorp | Opinion | Handout | General Info | Measure 11: Thorp, age 16, was convicted of 2nd degree rape for having sex with his 13 year old girlfriend and was sentenced to 75 months in jail.

» Political Parties
Political Ideologies: Students look at the differences between conservatives and liberals.

» Professional Conduct
The Honorable Dorothy Baker: This case about a judge who acted questionably illustrates that the legal profession does have to abide by certain ethical guidelines.

» Project Citizen
7-day Plan for Implementing Project Citizen: Using Project Citizen as a framework, students identify a problem in their community and develop a proposal to address the problem. Other resources: Powerpoint presentation (Pamela Long, Eagle Point High School)

» Searches and Seizures
Search and Seizure: Specific to Oregon

State of Oregon v. Johnson | Case: Salem police illegally seized the clothing of a suspect which tainted the items so that the evidence was excluded even when later seized under a valid warrant.

Vernonia School District v. Acton | Case: The school district required a drug test before students were permitted to play sports. Acton claims this violates his 4th amendment rights.

State v. Dominguez-Martinez | Case: This lesson will help students examine the use of racial profiling as a law enforcement tool and explore the concept of unreasonable searches and seizures in Oregon.

» Torts
Jefferson County School District v. Fair Dismissal Appeals Board: A teacher was fired when the police found her husband was growing and selling marijuana from their home. It deals with issues of negligence, employment law, and privacy.

» We the People
3-month Plan for Implementing We the People Curriculum: Students will learn about the development of our democracy, from the British colonies to the creation of our current system. (Linda Saling, Eagle Rock Elementary School)

4-week Unit Plan on American Government: Using the We the People curriculum, students are introduced to the founding dialogues and documents of American government, including the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the Constitutional Convention. Students will create a comprehensive “foldable” Guide to American Government to demonstrate their understanding of key concepts and vocabulary. Other resources: Unit test, study guide, vocabulary activity, “Birth of America” timeline activity, example of completed “foldable” (Deanna Bellin, Briggs Middle School)

10-month Comprehensive Plan for WTP Implementation: Includes detailed lesson plans and student assessment templates. Other resources: Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3, Unit 4, Unit 5, Unit 6, student assessment templates (pre-test, post-test) (Tessalie Schulte & Holly Wilson, Rigler Elementary School)

 

Case Studies

» 8th Amendment
McGinnis v. State of Texas: A 17 year old is sentenced to death for committing murder.

» 14th Amendment
Shorb v. Powers School District: A high school girl took a shower in the boy’s locker room with several boys. She was suspended and lost her co-valedictorian status.

» Confessions and Miranda
State ex rel Juvenile Dept of Lincoln Country v. Cook: Juvenile confesses to crimes but claims that his confession was involuntary and induced by the police.

» Consumer Law
Parrott v. Carr Chevrolet, Inc. | Opinion: Plaintiff bought a used car. Later he realized the car had problems. He sues under Oregon’s Unfair Trade Practices Act claiming the dealer failed to disclose known defects about the car.

Knepper v. Brown | Opinion: Knepper gets liposuction from a doctor who she found in the Yellow Pages. His ad said he was board certified when in fact he was not. She claims false advertising and fraud.

Viking v. Petersen: Petersen (age 19) drives a car, insured by Randle, and his passengers are killed in an accident. The insurance refuses to pay due to the driver’s age. Issues of liability insurance and freedom of contract.

» Discrimination
Tanner v. OHSU: OHSU’s denial of insurance benefits to homosexual domestic partners of its employees was illegal under OR constitution.

» Environmental Law
City of Portland v. The Boeing Co: The groundwater near Portland’s water wells was found to be contaminated due to solvents used by Boeing.

» Family Law
State ex rel State Office for Services to Children and Families v. Lehoten | Opinion: Alcoholic mother who suffered from bipolar disorder has her parental rights terminated.

Harrington v. Daum | Opinion: Boyfriend of divorced woman seeks the right to visit her children after her death.

Jane Does v. State of Oregon | Opinion: The constitutionality of a measure that allowed adopted people over 21 to access their original birth certificates is challenged and upheld.

» Freedom of Speech/Press/Religion
Pangel v. Bend-LaPine School District: A student distributed an underground newspaper that advocated that students disrupt school by doing things like making bomb threats.

Skywalker Records, Inc. v. Navarro: 2 Live Crew songs are held legally obscene.

Texas v. Johnson | Opinion | Activities: A man’s burning of the American flag as a political protest was allowed as part of his free expression right under the 1st amendment.

State ex rel Oregonian Publishing Co. v. Deiz: The court had to decide whether a juvenile’s court proceedings should be closed to the public and the press.

History of Search and Seizure in Oregon: Using case briefs, students will trace the history of the Exclusionary Rule through the state and federal courts. (Janelle Sowers, Lakeridge High School)

» Housing Law
Amatisto v. Paz: Paz rented a house that had several defects, such as a leaky roof and a defective wood stove. After numerous complaints, she stopped paying her rent. Her landlord brought an eviction action.

Humbert v. Sellars: The plaintiff slipped and fell while at a friend’s apartment. The court finds the landlord liable for the plaintiff’s injuries.

Wylie v. Gresch: The plaintiffs rented an apartment from the defendant. Link http://login.findlaw.com/scripts/callaw A neighbor dog bit off the ear of the plaintiff’s daughter. The defendants failed to warn them about the vicious dog. The court said the defendant did not have a duty to warn them.

» Mandatory Sentencing (Measure 11)
State of Oregon v. Thorp | Handout | General Info | Measure 11 | Opinion: Thorp, age 16, was convicted of 2nd degree rape for having sex with his 13 year old girlfriend and was sentenced to 75 months in jail.

State v. Fermin-Velasco (Brief) | Handout | General Info | Measure 11: Discusses whether Measure 11 is unconstitutional as a form of cruel & unusual punishment.

» Professional Conduct
The Honorable Dorothy Baker: This case about a judge who acted questionably illustrates that the legal profession does have to abide by certain ethical guidelines.

» Searches and Seizures
Kyllo v. United States | Case: The results of a scan of a house using a heat sensing device/thermal scanner were used to obtain a search warrant. Thesearch yielded large amounts of marijuana.

State of Oregon v. Johnson | Case: Salem police illegally seized the clothing of a suspect which tainted the items so that the evidence was excluded even when later seized under a valid warrant.

State of Oregon v. Smith: Police use a sniff dog to locate the presence of marijuana.

Vernonia School District v. Acton | Case: The school district required a drug test before students were permitted to play sports. Acton claims this violates his 4th amendment rights.

History of Search and Seizure in Oregon: Using case briefs, students will trace the history of the Exclusionary Rule through the state and federal courts. (Janelle Sowers, Lakeridge High School)

» Torts
Jefferson County School District v. Fair Dismissal Appeals Board: A teacher was fired when the police found her husband was growing and selling marijuana from their home. It deals with issues of negligence, employment law, and privacy.

Austria v. Bike Athletic Co: A products liability case in which a boy is injured when his football helmet is defective.

Solberg v. Johnson: Two friends go out and buy each other drinks. Later they are in a car accident. The friend is found to be a social host.

Lewis v. Oregon Beauty Supply Co: Plaintiff was harassed by her employer and she sued under intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Mosley v. Portland Public Schools: A student at Jefferson High is stabbed by another student. She sues the district for negligence.

Fearing v. Bucher | Opinion: A priest in Portland sexually abuses a boy. The boy sues the Archdiocese, his employer, for vicarious liability.

 

Mock Trials

Mock Trial Manual: Manual | Handouts | Appendix
 Step by step instructions, lesson plans, and supplementary resources.

2010 – State v. Lane: Part 1 | Part 2
A criminal case where the defendant, a rap artist, is charged with inciting a riot and arson.

2009 – Simon v. Swift and Eastside High School: Part 1 | Part 2
A civil case where the deceased was a student-athlete who had used steriods.

2008 – State v. Campbell: Part 1 | Part 2
A criminal case where the bullying victim is charged with planting a bomb at school.

2007 – Johnson v. Brewster, Miller, and WASP: Part 1 | Part 2
 A wrongful death action against not only the convicted wrongdoer, but the person and organization inciting hate.

2006 – State v. Kendall: Part 1 | Part 2
The case of fast cars in Caneville.

2005 – Parker et al v. Paradise County SD: Part 1 | Part 2
The case of the hazardous homework.

2004 – State v. Martin: Part 1 | Part 2
A criminal case where a student is charged with murder after a high school rock climber is found dead at the base of a cliff.

The People v. Andrew Jackson: Case | Teaching Notes
Historical mock trial for grades 8-12.

 

Youth Summits

2009 – Democracy & What’s News: What’s a Citizen To Do?
Intro | Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3 | Lesson 4 | Lesson 5
Lesson 6 | Lesson 7 | Lesson 8 | Lesson 9 | Lesson 10
Newsrooms, cybernews, journalism, citizen journalists. Students explore the connections between democracy, the news, and the role of citizens. Lessons range from the historical roots of free press to new social media.

2008 – Selecting the Next President: What Questions Should We Ask?
Intro | Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3 | Lesson 4 | Lesson 5
Lesson 6 | Lesson 7 | Lesson 8 | Lesson 9 | Lesson 10
Citizens need to ask important questions about the entire election process in order to fulfill their role in our representative democracy.  The who, what, where, when, why, and how queries are the common denominator of our efforts to learn together.

2007 – How does a “nation of immigrants” balance the benefits and the challenges of immigration in 2007?
Intro | Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3 | Lesson 4
Lesson 5 | Lesson 6 | Lesson 7 | Lesson 8 | Lesson 9
Lessons span history and move forward to current controversies. Students will have opportunities to learn about immigration trends, law and policy, and economic factors.

2006 – Ballot Initiatives: Too Much or Too Little Democracy?
Intro | Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3 | Lesson 4
Lesson 5 | Lesson 6 | Lesson 7 | Lesson 8
Lessons include background on the history of initiatives in Oregon, the pros and cons of the process, the role of funding and the ten initiatives appearing on the November ballot.

2005 – Selecting the Next U.S. Supreme Court Justice
Intro | Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3 | Lesson 4 | Lesson 5
Lesson 6 | Lesson 7 | Lesson 8 | Lesson 9 | Lesson 10
Lessons on important issues to consider when selecting the next justice of the United States Supreme Court.

2004 – Becoming an Informed Voter in the Presidential Election
Intro | Lesson 1 | Lesson 2 | Lesson 3 | Lesson 4 | Lesson 5
Lesson 6 | Lesson 7 | Lesson 8 | Lesson 9 | Lesson 10
Lessons focus on how to be well-informed when considering this year’s presidential election.

 

Other Educational Resources

Court Tour Guide: Includes detailed information about: tour logistics; courthouse behavior; the justice system; the Gus Solomon Courthouse, Justice Center, and Multnomah County Courthouse; fun fact; court-related lesson plans; and more!  Tours are available by reservation only.  Click here for more information about the Courthouse Experience Program or to request a tour.

Street Law Supplement: Introduction to Law & the Legal System; Criminal Law & Juvenile Justice; Torts; Consumer & Housing Law; Family Law; Rights in the Community

Youth Faces the Law: A Juvenile Rights Handbook produced by the Multnomah County Bar Association.