Judiciary and the Arts is a project of the Justice for All: Courts and the Community initiative with the Justice  Resource Center and the New York City Department of Education Office of Arts and Special Projects. The Matisse Foundation has provided support to the Justice Resource Center for this project.

The goals of the project are through the visual arts, to introduce students to the organization and functions of the federal judiciary, and to encourage students to learn about the historic and present-day role of the federal courts in the development of the law in the United States.

Students participating in the 2024 Judiciary and The Arts Program will prepare a visual representation of one of the three subjects listed below:

a) Create artwork about “fair use” in copyright law. Fair use is the right to use a copyrighted work under certain conditions without permission of the copyright owner.

 b) Design a courthouse or courtroom of the future. The design should convey at least one aspect of the judiciary’s constitutional role, which is described by Justice For All as:

The federal judiciary is one of the three branches of the national government. It seeks to provide the fair and effective administration of justice for all persons and interests, regardless of race, color, creed, gender, or status. Federal courts and their state court counterparts provide a means for settling disputes peacefully, and help to foster democratic governance, consistent with the Constitution’s goals of “justice” and “domestic tranquility.” Those who founded our government recognized the critical importance of an independent national judiciary with a limited but essential role.

See, e.g., the Thurgood Marshall U.S. Courthouse http://www.ca2.uscourts.gov/photos/slideshow.html#9

c) View a naturalization ceremony and design a courtroom mural. Design a modern mural about becoming a U.S. citizen in the 21st century that could be displayed in the space where naturalization ceremonies occur. Please fill out the visit request form here: https://forms.gle/wf2pnSLzVKBhAhqQ6  and write “naturalization ceremony” in the additional information section of the form if you are interested in attending a ceremony.

Courts have often used murals to convey ideas about the law. Examples of murals in New York State courthouses:
https://evergreene.com/projects/manhattan-appellate-court/

https://ww2.nycourts.gov/courts/9jd/Orange/Newburgh_photogallery.shtml

https://ww2.nycourts.gov/rules/trialcourts/index.shtml

Students can also view a selection of recorded naturalization ceremonies here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuRwy07_MENyKVLmSpfxolNx05k2XTydh and a video about special naturalization ceremonies in the Second Circuit here: https://youtu.be/87B2XVLUXJg

Learn about the pathway to citizenship here: https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/flyers/pathway_to_citizenship.pdf

d) Create an advertising print campaign about the benefits of jury service. View videos about jury service here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YwHLjZdebM and here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grnUvCNAfGA

The Equal Protection Clause and our Modern Imagination: – City College Academy of the Arts

Courthouse of The Future: Post-Apocalyptic Alien Invasion

City College Academy of the Arts

Judiciary and the Arts 2021

Students who participated in the 2021 Judiciary and The Arts Program prepared a visual representation of one of the four subjects listed below:

1.  The life and pre-judicial career of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who was born in Brooklyn and was the Supreme Court justice for the Second Circuit.
2. The life and career of Justice Thurgood Marshall, for whom the Second Circuit Court of Appeals Courthouse in Manhattan is named.  2021 is the 20th anniversary of the naming of the courthouse at 40 Foley Square in honor of Justice Marshall
3. One of four famous trials for which scripts for reenactments of the trials have been created:

– Constance Baker Motley, James Meredith, and The University of Mississippi;

– Susan Russo v. Central School District No. 1;

  – The Heart Mountain Draft Resisters;

  – The Amistad.

4. A courthouse or courtroom of the future.

Bronx International High School

Millennium Art Academy

High School of Art and Design

East- West School Of International Studies

High School of Art and Design Courthouse Presentations: