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In the heart of California鈥檚 Capital City, high school students in Sacramento had a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the federal judiciary through the Supreme Court & My Hometown program held at the Robert T. Matsui U.S. Courthouse from April 14-18.

Sponsored by the , the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, and the U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society, this week-long program is designed to inspire, educate, and launch the next generation of legal minds towards success as they learn about a U.S. Supreme Court case that began in their own city. In Sacramento, students explored the importance and long-lasting effects of 1944鈥檚 Ex parte Endo.

More than 60 students in 10th-12th grade across 17 high schools in Sacramento and Yolo counties applied to participate in the program, and thirty students were selected to participate. The Supreme Court in My Hometown program had never before been offered in Sacramento. According to the U.S. Supreme Court Historical Society, the program received a larger number of applicants than similar programs in other states. Consequently, the sponsors chose to admit additional students.

The students seemed to greatly appreciate the opportunity. 鈥淚 really had such a great experience at the Supreme Court and My Hometown Sacramento,鈥� high-school student Sofia Yee said. 鈥淕oing into this week, I wasn鈥檛 sure how I felt about law. But I feel so much more confident in my understanding in the law, and I feel a lot more empowered to pursue this sort of field in the future. 鈥�

This is the first time the program has been held in the Ninth Circuit, which spans nine states. Students were chosen based on their expressed interest during the application process, where they answered questions about their interest in the judicial branch and included letters of recommendation from educators in the community.

The week began with a warm welcome by Chief Judge Troy Nunley, who has served in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California since 2013 and as chief since September 2024. A comprehensive introduction of the judicial branch and the federal and local court systems was presented by the the Hon. Daniel Calabretta. During the week, the group participated in interactive activities, including a courthouse tour and panels on probation, pretrial processes, and federal trials.

Connections between students had been brought to life by mid-week, while they engaged in hands-on activities to solidify an understanding of the inner workings of the law. These up-and-coming legal scholars got the chance to observe Senior Judge Kimberly Mueller鈥檚 criminal calendar, participated in Q&A sessions with legal professionals, and analyzed historical documents related to WWII Japanese incarceration. These experiences provided unique insights into the workings of the federal judiciary and the U.S. Supreme Court.

The students also had opportunities to interact with a lineup of distinguished guest speakers, including Professor Thomas Joo from UC Davis, internment camp survivor Marielle Tsukamoto, and Dr. Karen Korematsu (daughter of Frank Korematsu), who shared their expertise and personal stories.

On the final day, students presented their capstone project to leaders in the Sacramento legal community, family, and mentors. In groups, students delved into Sacramento鈥檚 legal and historical landscape during WW2 creating infographics that will soon be collectively displayed as a temporary museum piece in the Justice Kennedy Learning Center.

鈥淭he Supreme Court & My Hometown program is an invaluable one-week civic education experience for high school students, culminating in a capstone project that will be housed in the Justice Kennedy Learning Center within the Robert T. Matsui U.S. Courthouse. Students have the unique opportunity to hear from Japanese-American internment camp survivors, federal judges, attorneys, federal court staff, and law professors from McGeorge, UC Davis, UC Berkeley, and Sacramento State. Students are voluntarily spending their entire spring break in a federal courthouse learning about the judicial branch, and fostering an early relationship between McGeorge and those types of driven, young adults will only bolster the school鈥檚 reputation in the community,鈥� said Rydder Kramer, McGeorge School of Law Program Coordinator.

The Supreme Court & My Hometown program provides a rare experience to community youth to empower them to become active, informed citizens. The hope is to inspire the next generation of legal trailblazers and give them the tools needed to launch a career in the law.

This immersive program is a testament to the commitment of the 老司机福利网 McGeorge School of Law, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, and the Supreme Court Historical Society to fostering the next generation of leaders.