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United States District Court
 Northern District of Illinois
 Honorable Virginia M. Kendall, Chief Judge | Thomas G. Bruton, Clerk of Court
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 Teachers and Organizations Visit

Welcome Teachers!

The United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois appreciates your interest in learning about the judicial branch and welcomes you to visit us. We will provide you with valuable information and important resources to take back to your students and colleagues.

Our workshops will offer live courtroom observations, a session with a U.S. District Court Judge and other legal professionals, and a courthouse tour. Questions will be encouraged throughout the workshop.

Please see the following information below, which include teacher registration form, educational materials, planning a field trip for your students and additional resources to help you prepare for your visit.

Fill out our Online Teacher's Registration Form or download the PDF fillable form to make a reservation.

Federal Judicial Center

This site offers reading materials to educate students about the many aspects of the federal court system. To visit this site, please click here.

Understanding the Federal Courts

This link is to the U.S. Courts website titled “Understanding the Federal Courts.” There are many sections to help educate readers about Federal Courts and their role within our National Government. To visit this site, click here.

For a 50-page PDF document titled “Understanding the Federal Courts,” please click here.

United States Courts Educational Resources

To access the Educational Resources page of the United States Courts website, please click here.

If you are interested in bringing a group of students to the courthouse to learn about the federal judiciary, please visit our Field Trips To Court For Students.

Frequently Asked Questions For the Teacher/Institutions Visit Program

The Teacher/Institution Visit Program is designed for teachers (any grade) of any learning institutions.

No. Visits are offered free of charge.

No. However the courthouse is located near public transportation and public parking facilities.

No. Lunch or snack arrangements should be coordinated by the individual and can take place before or after the scheduled visit. The on-site cafeteria contact is Market Creations @ 312-880-0242. Click here for more information.

The program is typically 3 hours long. Agendas may be modified based on the groups interests and needs.

The teacher/institution visit to the courthouse is geared towards teachers of any institution that is interested in learning about the federal judiciary court system. Our workshops will offer live courtroom observations, a session with a U.S. District Court Judge and other legal professionals, and a courthouse tour.

Please indicate what your special needs are at the time you schedule a visit. We will arrange for reasonable accommodations to the best of our ability.

Please contact Lauren Thiel at Community-Outreach@ilnd.uscourts.gov or (312) 435-5603.

If you have to cancel, please provide as much notice as possible – two weeks notice is appreciated – so that classes on the waiting list will have a chance to fill the opening.

If you would like to reschedule after a cancellation, please reregister at the registration form.

A valid photo ID is required to enter the building.

Items Not Allowed in Courthouses.

Contraband consists of those items which an individual may legally possess, but are prohibited from being brought into a courthouse. These items include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Knives, Razor Blades, Scissors, Powders, Liquids, Aerosol Spray Cans, Markers, Pepper Spray, Mace
  • Glass Items
  • Tools, Nails or Screws Etc.
  • Cameras, Radios, Tape Recorders
  • Rolled Coins, Handcuff Keys, Pad Locks, Heavy Chain Items, Heavy Metallic Belts, Knitting Needles, Corkscrews
  • And any other items that Court Services Department (C.S.D.) members feel will compromise the security or integrity of courthouse and courtroom proceeding