Law Day 2023: Cornerstones of Democracy, the Rule and Role of Law

The Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute is providing free educational programming for all schools to celebrate Law Day 2023, traditionally celebrated on May 1. Its goal is to deliver to schools a meaningful video in honor of Law Day and its theme, “Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration," from the American Bar Association, with a particular focus on the rule of law and the role of law. The Johnson Institute, in partnership with the law firm of Hill, Hill, Carter, Franco, Cole & Black, P.C., will provide school systems from around the nation and locally here in the River Region with a copy of the video made for Law Day. 

The video is accompanied with information about this year's Law Day theme and discussion questions to promote thoughtful dialog in the classroom. The Johnson Institute’s Law Day video highlights the three components of this year's theme. The judges participating discuss the rule of law and answer questions related to this year's theme. The Johnson Institute regularly provides free educational programming for students, teachers, and educational professionals in middle schools to the graduate level throughout the year.

View the video and resources here.

Judge Michelle Childs to Deliver Durr Lecture Saturday, April 29th

Judge J. Michelle Childs of the United States Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit will speak Saturday evening, April 29th in Montgomery as part of the 2023 Clifford & Virginia Durr Lecture Weekend. The lecture will be held at First Baptist Church, 347 Ripley St. More information can be found on the Durr Lectures website linked above. Martha Prescott Norman Noonan, editor of Hands on the Freedom Plow, will speak Friday at Alabama State University.

The lectures are free and open to the public.

Judge Childs was appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in July 2022. She holds her undergraduate degree in Management from the University of South Florida Honors College, a law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law, a Masters in Personnel and Employment Relations from the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business, a Masters of Judicial Studies from Duke University School of Law, and an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Public Service from the University of South Carolina. Her full bio can be found on the DC Circuit webpage.

Montgomery Public Schools’ MPACT Students Visit the Courthouse

The Middle District of Alabama and the Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute recently welcomed two groups of students from the Montgomery Public Schools’ MPACT program to the Frank Johnson Courthouse. MPACT, which stands for Montgomery Preparatory Academy for Career Technologies, focuses on high school students who want to graduate with a career certification along with their high school degree. Students visiting the courthouse were primarily from the Public Safety, Information Technology, the Honors Career Society, and Fire Safety programs. FMJI helped coordinate the event to help introduce them to the historical and constitutional importance of The Frank Johnson Courthouse of the Middle District of Alabama while also exposing students to career options.

Judge Myron Thompson with MPACT students.

The groups heard from U. S. District Judge Myron Thompson and IT Director Florian Weber, and some students were able to watch live court proceedings. Judge Thompson and Mr. Weber spent time with the students discussing their work and how they decided on their career fields. A question and answer session with Judge Thompson not only helped students focus on law as a career field, but they were able to ask questions about the process and educational path that Judge Thompson took as well. The IT portion of the visit gave the MPACT students the opportunity to see firsthand all the avenues where technology is used and needed within the court system. Weber discussed certification, equipment, and personnel required to make the courts function. Students engaged with questions about degree areas, what types of court cases needed technical support, and how to get a job within the federal system. FMJI later hosted the Fire Safety and Public Safety classes from MPACT, catering to students with a focus on careers in law enforcement and fire departments. During this visit, the students were able to watch a sentencing in Judge Thompson’s courtroom.

While at the courthouse, the students were given the opportunity to tour the Johnson Library and ask questions with the FMJI staff. Several students stated the setting was “an awesome experience” and expressed interest in changing career fields after the tour. One visitor remarked that she “had no idea all this history was in Montgomery.”

Please support FMJI in your year-end giving

We are excited about our growth at the Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute, and we are pleased to share some of the highlights of 2022. Our programming has expanded with in-person Johnson Institute Scholars conferences, a multitude of high school and college interns, and increased tours for community organizations, civic groups, and schools so the public can experience the Historic Courtroom firsthand. The Institute is expanding to fill a need, and our partnerships have also grown to include leadership organizations, schools and colleges, and more nonprofits.

Here are some examples of our growth over the last year:

  • Training teachers from all over the country through multi-day conferences on Constitutional education and historical court cases decided here in Montgomery. Every attendee leaves these conferences with a deeper understanding of the American judicial system and hands-on materials to use in their classrooms free of charge.

  • Tours for guests of all ages to have hands-on experience in the Frank Johnson Courthouse and an understanding of the history that took place here.

  • Award-winning programming. In March, the American Bar Association recognized the Johnson Institute with an “Outstanding Activity Award” for our 2021 Law Day program, “What is Due Process?”.

  • Providing personal interactions for our visitors to engage with legal professionals as they volunteer hand-in-hand with students, teachers, and others to foster knowledge of our court system. This includes the U.S. Courts’ “Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions” workshop for students. Seven federal judges and over 30 attorneys have played a role in our growing programming so far.

The rich history surrounding “America’s Courtroom” is unique, and the Johnson Institute is unmatched in its programs to recognize this history. The notable civil and human rights cases decided there changed the landscape of the United States, and this cornerstone of American History is a vital resource for civics education. In our work, we can tailor visits to specific topics, rulings, and time periods that best suit the visitors. 

We invite you to visit us and thank you for considering a financial donation to help the Johnson Institute continue its one-of-a-kind civics education offered to everyone. 

We wish you the best this holiday season and hope to see you in the New Year. 

Sincerely, 
Debbie Long, Co-Chair of the Board of Directors
Thomas Rains, Executive Director

P.S. If you shop on Amazon, please select the Johnson Institute as your benefiting charity on AmazonSmile and support our work at no additional cost to you. With each of your eligible purchases, Amazon makes a gift to us. For more information, click HERE.

FMJI Featured in Montgomery Business Journal

The Johnson Institute is proud to be featured in the September edition of the Montgomery Business Journal as part of its annual Big Give editorial highlighting local non-profit organizations. 

Since beginning operations in the summer of 2019, the Johnson Institute has grown its programming and hosted guests from all over the world at the Frank Johnson Courthouse. Our conferences for teachers have attracted participants from numerous states, and our collection of oral histories is growing.

Check out our profile in the MBJ, and keep an eye out for upcoming events!

Oral History Project

Judge Frank Johnson famously said that he was just “doing his job” by ruling in cases that upheld the United States Constitution. And, by doing his job, he changed the world. 

Over the course of his life and career, Judge Johnson made an impact on countless people. This was especially true through the Constitutional cases that came before him as a judge: Browder v. Gayle, Cobb v. Montgomery Library Board, Williams v. Wallace, Wyatt v. Stickney, and so many others. But, it was also true on a personal level, with his family and friends. 

In honor of Constitution Week 2022, the Johnson Institute is proud to share the inaugural videos of its Oral History Project. This project is capturing stories, memories, and accounts of events from people who knew, worked with, and were affected by the rulings of Judge Frank Johnson. We are preserving these stories for future historical and educational use.

The Johnson Institute is grateful to the narrators who have shared their stories, and we look forward to speaking with many more in the months and years to come. 

Come Work with Us!

The Johnson Institute is growing! We are currently accepting applications for two newly created positions. These are unique opportunities to join a young 501(c)(3) organization focused on sharing the stories of history to inspire and promote civics education, understanding of the United States and its system of government.

  • Administrative Coordinator: This position reports to the Executive Director and will work with him and other staff to support the Institute’s operations and programming. For more information, please see the full job description.

  • Education Coordinator: This position reports to the Executive Director and will manage existing programs and develop new educational events and programming focused on the U.S. Constitution, the independent judiciary, and the history of the Middle District of Alabama. For more information, please see the full job description.

Each role will begin on a part-time, hybrid basis with the potential to grow into a full-time position at the Johnson Institute. Successful applicants should be able to work remotely and at the Johnson Institute’s office in Montgomery in the course of business.

To stay up to date on future job opportunities, please bookmark our Job Openings page. 

Johnson Institute Hosts Teachers for 2022 Scholars Conferences

The Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute hosted two conferences for teachers this summer at the Frank Johnson Courthouse, with the help of judges, attorneys, and others from the Middle District of Alabama.

Chief Judge Emily Marks addresses the teachers in June.

The teachers attended the Johnson Institute Scholars conferences to learn about the U.S. Constitution, independent judiciary, and historic cases of the Middle District of Alabama. The teachers will take the knowledge they gained back to the classroom to share with their students and colleagues.

“This is the best conference/seminar/forum I have ever attended,” said Richard Englar, a high school teacher from Maryville Preparatory School in Lutherville, Maryland—one of several out-of-state teachers who traveled to Montgomery in June for the experience. “It will be extremely useful when I teach my Government class this fall.”

The conferences were the first of what will be regular, in-person events hosted by the Johnson Institute for middle and high school teachers of government, civics, history and related social studies subjects. More than 40 teachers attended this summer’s two conferences from as close by as Montgomery and as far away as Ohio.

Over multiple days (June 21-22 and July 27-29) the teachers met with judges and other legal experts to discuss the Constitution, how the legal system works, and related topics. The groups took a bus tour of historic sites in Montgomery, and interacted with a judge and volunteer attorneys in a mock hearing workshop designed by the federal courts for high school students called Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions.

Teachers prepare to make their arguments to the judge as part of the CD3 workshop.

“This was a phenomenal experience as it permitted teachers to visualize and experience the process learners would experience with mock trials,” said Patricia Ray, a history teacher from Montgomery, AL, following the CD3 workshop in July. Ray added that the workshop would allow her to strengthen her instructional capacity.

As part of the conference, the Johnson Institute provided teachers with in-depth resources on historic Constitutional court cases decided in the Middle District. This included Browder v. Gayle, the case stemming from the events that led to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and Williams v. Wallace, which led to authorization of the Selma March.

Magistrate Judge Jerusha Adams leads “Anatomy of a Criminal Case” in June.

Sessions included explanations of the “anatomy” of civil and criminal cases with guest speakers, a viewing of sentencings, and discussions of methods for teaching about court cases from an expert teacher.

“All of the presenters here were awesome. Not only was the information incredibly engaging, the dynamic of the judge and attorneys and their candor in describing the process of adjudicating criminal cases was the appropriate level of depth,” said Barbara Waltsgott, an AP Government teacher at Baker High School in Mobile, AL, following “Anatomy of a Criminal Case” at the June session, led by a magistrate judge and including attorneys from the Department of Justice and the Federal Defenders office.

Historian Dr. Richard Bailey speaks to teachers in the courtroom at City Hall where the arraignment of Rosa Parks took place in 1955.

During the bus tour, attendees visited historic locations in Montgomery, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s former home and Holt Street Baptist Church, where the first mass meeting was held to organize the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Senior District Judge Keith Watkins, a charter member of the Johnson Institute board, helped to plan the conference based on his experience observing the Montana Judicial Institute for teachers hosted by the District of Montana in Missoula.

The Johnson Institute will host the Scholars conferences again next summer for middle and high school teachers. Teachers interested in attending and others interested in the Johnson Institute’s work can stay up to date by signing up for email updates from the Johnson Institute.

The Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute Announces New Board of Directors Members

[Access a pdf of this release here.]

The Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute has announced 27 new members of its Board of Directors as it grows and expands programming.

“We are honored to have these new Board members join us,” said Debbie Long, Founding Co-Chair of the Board. “This diverse group encompasses leaders from across Alabama and the nation to provide the Johnson Institute with strong support as it grows,” added Long.

“The Johnson Institute has a bright future ahead as it develops programming focused on the U.S. Constitution and welcomes visitors to Montgomery, Alabama to share the history that took place there,” said Quentin Riggins, Founding Co-Chair.

Beginning operations in mid-2019, the Johnson Institute has worked with the Middle District of Alabama and the Frank M. Johnson Courthouse in Montgomery to host more than 1,000 visitors, including students, community leaders and members of the general public. Additionally, it has organized and launched civics education events and programming for various audiences. Last spring, it kicked off an oral history project to capture stories of those who knew Judge Johnson or were affected by his rulings in the Middle District of Alabama.

“It is an honor to work with this outstanding group to fulfill the mission of the Johnson Institute,” said Thomas Rains, Executive Director. “Looking ahead, we are well positioned to expand our impact by organizing meaningful programming and events that share stories of justice and the United States Constitution,” he added.

New and continuing Members of the Board of Directors include:

  • *Anita Archie, Alabama Power Company, Montgomery, AL

  • *Owen Aronov, Aronov Realty, Montgomery, AL (Founding Treasurer)

  • Bill Baxley, Baxley Jackson, Birmingham, AL

  • Jere Beasley, Beasley Allen, Montgomery, AL

  • Lori Boone, RE/MAX Tri-Star, Montgomery, AL

  • Peter Canfield, Jones Day, Atlanta, GA

  • Lindsay Rane Carter, Great Southern Wood, Abbeville, AL

  • *Kate Cotton, Leadership Alabama, Birmingham, AL

  • Gen. Ed Crowell, Montgomery, AL

  • Dr. Marquita Davis, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Washington, DC

  • Mason Davis, Sirote & Permutt, Birmingham, AL

  • Milton Davis, B.L. Harbert International, Birmingham, AL

  • Dr. Nancy Dunlap, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL

  • *Joe Espy, Melton, Espy & Williams, Montgomery, AL

  • Boots Gale, Maynard, Cooper & Gale, Birmingham, AL

  • Bob Geddie, Fine & Geddie, Montgomery, AL

  • *Lewis Gillis, Means Gillis, Montgomery, AL

  • Lane Heard, Williams & Connolly, Washington, DC

  • Ted Hosp, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama, Montgomery, AL

  • John Hueston, Hueston Hennigan LLP, Los Angeles, CA

  • Liz Huntley, Lightfoot, Franklin & White, Birmingham, AL

  • Anthony Joseph, Maynard Cooper & Gale, Birmingham, AL

  • *Vanessa Leonard, Rockford, AL

  • *Debbie Long, Birmingham, AL (Founding Co-Chair)

  • Chief Judge Emily Marks, Middle District of Alabama, Montgomery, AL

  • Dr. Valda Montgomery, Montgomery, AL

  • Drayton Nabers, Birmingham, AL

  • *Quentin Riggins, Alabama Power Company, Birmingham, AL (Founding Co-Chair)

  • Sheron Rose, Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, Montgomery, AL

  • *Bobby Segall, Copeland Franco, Montgomery, AL (Founding Member)

  • *Judge Keith Watkins, Middle District of Alabama, Montgomery, AL (Founding Member)

  • *Laurie Jean Weil, D.V.M., Montgomery, AL (Founding Member)

  • *Cathy Wright, Birmingham, AL

*Executive Committee Member

Trey Granger and Greg Butrus serve as Secretary and General Counsel, respectively.

About the Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr., Institute
The Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute’s mission is to be a non-partisan voice that shares the stories of our Constitution and our Judiciary through programs that illuminate issues and perspectives, foster thoughtful and civil discourse, and inspire our national community in our nation’s never-ending pursuit of a more perfect union.

Its work includes organizing programming that fosters an exchange of knowledge in a respectful and open manner about Constitutional issues, particularly as they affect the judicial branch of government. Working in partnership with the Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Courthouse in Montgomery, Alabama, the Institute’s programming allows for the public to experience the setting of Judge Johnson’s historic rulings and learn of the nation-changing stories of justice they embodied.

To learn more, visit www.thejohnsoninstitute.org.

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Please Support FMJI in Your Year-end Giving

We’re continuing to expand opportunities to engage with the Constitution and the stories that illuminate its significance. Will you join us as we educate and lift up the next generation of Judge Johnsons in their journeys to be pillars of justice and courage, and upholders of the law?

To become a supporter, you can:

  • Mail a check to payable to the Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute to:
    The Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute
    P. O. Box 100
    Montgomery, AL 36101

  • Select the Johnson Institute as your benefiting charity on AmazonSmile and support our work at no additional cost to you. With each of your eligible purchases, Amazon makes a gift to us in your honor. For more information, click HERE.

  • Give a gift of stock. To do so, please contact us, and we will provide further instructions.

  • Leave a planned gift in your estate plan. To make proper arrangements, please contact us.

Read more

Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions Workshops for High School Students

This fall, the Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr. Institute held its first Civil Discourse and Difficult Decisions, or “CD3,” workshops for high school students. CD3 was developed by the federal courts and aims to bring young people into federal courthouses to teach them about the legal system. Students engage in legal proceedings and discussions relevant to situations youth may find themselves in…

Read more

Johnson Institute Launches Professional Development Workshops

Over the summer, the Johnson Institute held its inaugural Johnson Institute Scholars Program workshops. The virtual course lasted a half-day and offered an opportunity for educators to learn about the Constitution. For this workshop, educators focused on the historic court case of Williams v. Wallace, in which Judge Frank Johnson authorized the historic 1965 Selma March.

Read more

Johnson Institute Wins Alabama Humanities Alliance Grant

By Taylor Armstrong

In September, the Johnson Institute received word from the Alabama Humanities Alliance that the Institute was being awarded a $10,000 grant.

AHA awards grant money to nonprofit organizations across the state of Alabama that work to promote the appreciation of topics like history, civics, literature, and culture.

The grant is a part of AHA’s Alabama Humanities Recover Grant. We are one of 83 different nonprofit organizations awarded funding for Alabama’s most cherished cultural landmarks and community resources recovering from the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Alabama Humanities Recovery Grants are funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities through the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Taylor Armstrong is an intern for the Johnson Institute.

Kicking off the Johnson Institute Scholars Program: Weighing Constitutional Rights in Williams v. Wallace →

Join education and legal professionals on July 14th or 21st for a half-day Johnson Institute Scholars course on incorporating historic court cases into middle and high school instruction. This virtual course for educators will take a pedagogical look at the Constitutional arguments of Williams v. Wallace, the 1965 court case that followed “Bloody Sunday” and paved the way for the Selma-to-Montgomery March, a turning point in the Civil Rights Movement.

Read more

What is Due Process? Virtual Panel in Honor of Law Day 2021

The Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute (FMJI) is premiering a virtual panel discussion, What is Due Process?, in honor of Law Day 2021 and its theme, “Advancing the Rule of Law Now.” (https://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/law-day/)

The panel discussion, geared to high school students, features a clear and concise discussion of the Constitutional right of due process, guaranteed by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution.

As students learn about the importance of the Constitution and the right of due process, this panel discussion provides an opportunity to learn from experts in law and education. We hope teachers and students will watch it this week while recognizing Law Day and for years to come.

Panelists include:

  • Dr. Elizabeth Bowles, Law Magnet Instructor at the Center for Law, Booker T. Washington Magnet High School here in Montgomery, Alabama.

  • Mr. Lane Heard, Senior Counsel at the law firm of Williams and Connolly in Washington, DC.

  • Mrs. Elizabeth Huntley, Senior Counsel and Director of Community Relations and Engagement at Lightfoot, Franklin and White in Birmingham, AL.

  • Thomas Rains, Executive Director of FMJI (Moderator)

FMJI's Oral History Project

This week marks the beginning of the Johnson Institute’s Oral History Project to capture stories, memories, and accounts of events from people who knew, worked with, and were affected by the rulings of Judge Frank Johnson. This project seeks to preserve these stories for future historical and educational use.

With this project, we’ve set our sites on history. Our objectives are to:

  • Capture primary accounts of and perspectives on Judge Frank Johnson and the historical events during his life.

  • Preserve for future generations stories from history as a resource on the life and times of Judge Frank Johnson. These videos will be available to researchers, teachers, and students of law, history, civil rights, and related areas. 

  • Provide video resources and content for the Johnson Institute’s own work developing educational programming related to the U.S. Constitution and independent judiciary.

If you would like to be included in the Oral History Project and tell your story, please let us know.

 
Announcing FMJI's New Oral History Project (2).png
 

FMJI Partners with Freedom Forum Institute to Present Free Online Course on the Civil Rights Movement and The First Amendment

The Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute (FMJI) today announced the release of a new online multimedia course in conjunction with the Freedom Forum Institute of Washington, DC.

“The First Amendment and the Civil Rights Movement” can be accessed through FMJI’s website and is designed for use primarily by higher education faculty, students, working professionals and others who wish to explore more fully the intersection between the movement and the First Amendment. It incorporates multimedia resources from the Newseum and written and documentary film materials produced by Stetson University. Many of the cases highlighted took place in Montgomery, AL, and were presided over by Judge Frank Johnson, including Browder v. Gayle, which stemmed from the Montgomery Bus Boycott beginning in 1955, and Williams v. Wallace, which authorized the Selma to Montgomery March in 1965. A full list of interviews is included with this press release.

To celebrate the release, on Tuesday, March 2, FMJI will premier an interview with  course authors, Prof. Robert Bickel of Stetson University and Gene Policinski of the Freedom Forum, conducted by Thomas Rains, FMJI’s executive director. The interview will premiere on FMJI’s Facebook page at 2:00 on Tuesday, March 2.

“This course is a wonderful opportunity for educators, students, and researchers alike to learn more about how the U.S. Constitution shaped the Civil Rights Movement,” said Rains. “The Johnson Institute’s goal in partnering with the Freedom Forum to promote this course is to give citizens across the country a deeper understanding of our Constitution and how it has played a role in the shaping of our nation.”