Missouri’s Supreme Court Chief Justice, Mary R. Russell, visited Parkway Central’s third hour government classes on Sept. 19 to give a presentation over her role in government. Over 50 juniors and seniors were in attendance, in addition to the various social studies teachers and district administrators.
While Russell’s visit may seem out of the blue, it happened for a variety of reasons. Sept. 16 marks Constitution Day, a day commemorating the signing of the U.S. Constitution, and Russell feels it is important to advocate the importance of the judicial branch. Furthermore, Parkway Central is located in Russell’s community.
“I live just down the street, and If I had kids or if I was your age, this is the school I would go to,” Russell said.
The special occasion was particularly impactful for junior Andrew Kang. Currently enrolled in AP Government and Comparative Politics, he plans to pursue a career in law. Kang has taken classes like Honors US History, AP World and Latin throughout high school, while also actively engaging in speech and debate to explore his interests.
“I feel like it was cool to have such an important person in the building talking to us,” Kang said. “It was kind of eye-opening getting to experience what it would be like to be a Supreme Court judge.”
Chief Justice Russell talked about her role in the Missouri government, in addition to sharing a couple of sample cases that she would deal with. The students in attendance were able to extend the knowledge from their Government classes, applying the theoretical concepts they’ve only seen on paper, and apply them to real life scenarios.
“So each month we get 30 to 40 applications for people who’ve lost at the Court of Appeals. And want us to hear the case one more time,” Russell said. “But we read through the case and read through the facts and read through the decision. And we try to decide, is this a case of statewide interest or general importance?”
Within the filled theatre seats, one teacher held a unique perspective on Russell’s presentation. John Meyer, a social studies teacher, found himself at the intersection of two worlds. Before having pursued a career in education, Meyer worked in the legal field, earning his law degree from SLU after earning a bachelor in business from Indiana University.
“What she was doing that day was holding the attention of 100 people, mostly 100 young people, and trying to convey something,” Meyer said. “So I’m always curious, especially with people who are in the profession so close to the one that I used to be in, to see how they do.”
Russell’s ability to analyze and understand legal cases in her job is a testament to her intelligence. Yet, Meyer highlights it’s the way in which Russellis able to express her ideas and thought process in a way that resonates with the young minds that truly sets her apart.
“Yeah, because she’s very, very good at analyzing very complex legal theories. And she’s very good at communicating her findings and her results in writing,” Meyer said. “That’s a very different skill set than being able to stand up in front of a roomful of high schoolers. So I think the first thing that stood out to me was how she was able to do that effectively.”
Russell, before concluding her visit, offered an invitation to the students, encouraging them to witness the court in session and meet her co-workers.
“We’d love to have you come watch the court in action and meet some of the judges,” Russell said. “I’m planting the seed here.”
