The magnificence of the Million-Dollar Courtroom in Detroit served as the backdrop for a photo of participants in the inaugural Court Civics Initiative Teachers’ Justice Academy last month.
Court Civics Initiative helps bring justice to life for 28 area teachers
By Tom Kirvan
Legal News
Inside the historic Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse in Detroit, a unique educational program recently took place, offering 28 high school civics, government, and American history teachers from across the metro area the opportunity “to do a deep dive in the federal criminal justice system,” according to U.S. District Judge Terrence Berg.
Moving beyond textbooks and traditional lecture halls, local educators gathered at the federal courthouse on October 29 for “our first ever Court Civics Initiative Teachers’ Justice Academy,” Judge Berg indicated.
“We had participants from our court, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Community Defender, the Probation and Pretrial Services offices, and the Eastern District of Michigan Bar Association,” said Berg, a member of the federal bench since 2012. “It was a day-long program that involved a mock suppression hearing and grand jury hearing, as well as two panel discussions, covering everything from the beginning of an investigation, through charging, negotiations, trial, and sentencing.”
The intensive professional development program, according to Berg, is designed to serve as a critical bridge between the federal judiciary and public classrooms during a politically-charged time when the rule of law has been threatened. While many citizens understand the basic branches of government, the intricate mechanics of the federal courts and the constitutional protections they uphold can feel distant. By immersing educators directly into the judicial environment, the Court Civics Initiative aims to change that narrative from the ground up, according to organizers of the program.
“This program started in response to the Sixth Circuit’s push for civics education that has been going on for several years,” Berg explained. “Judge Stephanie Dawkins Davis is on the Sixth Circuit’s Civics Committee – and that committee sponsored a Civics Summit in May of 2025 that Judge Davis and I participated in.”
Among the federal judges participating in the program last month were Matthew Leitman, Denise Page Hood, Linda Parker, Jonathan Grey, Lisa Gretchko, Laurie Michelson, Curtis Ivy, and Berg.
Also participating in the program were: FBI Special Agent Aaron Erkkinen, Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Kuhn, Federal Community Defender Matt Monahan, U.S. Pretrial Service Officer Justina Phillips Mann, ATF Special Agent Mary Behler, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyse Wu, Federal Community Defender Nancy McGunn, and Chief U.S. Probation Officer Anthony Merolla. The guest speaker at the luncheon between the morning and afternoon sessions was Dani Hourani, director of Governmental Affairs and Community Development at Team Wellness Center.
“As part of the Civics Initiative, the U.S. District Court also hosted a half-day program for students from Troy Athens High School on October 14,” Berg said. “This was spearheaded by Judge Brandy McMillion, who is also on our committee.”
At its core, the Teachers’ Justice Academy highlights the importance of the rule of law as the bedrock of a fair and stable society, according to Berg, who noted that educators gained a transparent look at how the judiciary works to ensure accountability and equal justice.
Teachers had the opportunity to engage firsthand with members of the federal judiciary and court professionals, exploring everything from case pathways to everyday courtroom operations, Berg added.
“This has been the first of its kind, and we are excited because it is part of our Court Civics Initiative,” Berg said of the program. “The teachers indicated that it was a wonderful learning experience.
“This has been an amazing process that has benefitted from wonderful teamwork by all the participants,” Berg noted. “This is an ongoing process that we hope will continue to enrich the civics education of our young people and our educators – and will strengthen our democracy at the same time.”
Legal News
Inside the historic Theodore Levin U.S. Courthouse in Detroit, a unique educational program recently took place, offering 28 high school civics, government, and American history teachers from across the metro area the opportunity “to do a deep dive in the federal criminal justice system,” according to U.S. District Judge Terrence Berg.
Moving beyond textbooks and traditional lecture halls, local educators gathered at the federal courthouse on October 29 for “our first ever Court Civics Initiative Teachers’ Justice Academy,” Judge Berg indicated.
“We had participants from our court, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the Federal Community Defender, the Probation and Pretrial Services offices, and the Eastern District of Michigan Bar Association,” said Berg, a member of the federal bench since 2012. “It was a day-long program that involved a mock suppression hearing and grand jury hearing, as well as two panel discussions, covering everything from the beginning of an investigation, through charging, negotiations, trial, and sentencing.”
The intensive professional development program, according to Berg, is designed to serve as a critical bridge between the federal judiciary and public classrooms during a politically-charged time when the rule of law has been threatened. While many citizens understand the basic branches of government, the intricate mechanics of the federal courts and the constitutional protections they uphold can feel distant. By immersing educators directly into the judicial environment, the Court Civics Initiative aims to change that narrative from the ground up, according to organizers of the program.
“This program started in response to the Sixth Circuit’s push for civics education that has been going on for several years,” Berg explained. “Judge Stephanie Dawkins Davis is on the Sixth Circuit’s Civics Committee – and that committee sponsored a Civics Summit in May of 2025 that Judge Davis and I participated in.”
Among the federal judges participating in the program last month were Matthew Leitman, Denise Page Hood, Linda Parker, Jonathan Grey, Lisa Gretchko, Laurie Michelson, Curtis Ivy, and Berg.
Also participating in the program were: FBI Special Agent Aaron Erkkinen, Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Kuhn, Federal Community Defender Matt Monahan, U.S. Pretrial Service Officer Justina Phillips Mann, ATF Special Agent Mary Behler, Assistant U.S. Attorney Alyse Wu, Federal Community Defender Nancy McGunn, and Chief U.S. Probation Officer Anthony Merolla. The guest speaker at the luncheon between the morning and afternoon sessions was Dani Hourani, director of Governmental Affairs and Community Development at Team Wellness Center.
“As part of the Civics Initiative, the U.S. District Court also hosted a half-day program for students from Troy Athens High School on October 14,” Berg said. “This was spearheaded by Judge Brandy McMillion, who is also on our committee.”
At its core, the Teachers’ Justice Academy highlights the importance of the rule of law as the bedrock of a fair and stable society, according to Berg, who noted that educators gained a transparent look at how the judiciary works to ensure accountability and equal justice.
Teachers had the opportunity to engage firsthand with members of the federal judiciary and court professionals, exploring everything from case pathways to everyday courtroom operations, Berg added.
“This has been the first of its kind, and we are excited because it is part of our Court Civics Initiative,” Berg said of the program. “The teachers indicated that it was a wonderful learning experience.
“This has been an amazing process that has benefitted from wonderful teamwork by all the participants,” Berg noted. “This is an ongoing process that we hope will continue to enrich the civics education of our young people and our educators – and will strengthen our democracy at the same time.”
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