Civics Education

Judge John F. Grady Virtual Summer Institute for Teachers, click here for more information.

U.S. Courts Educational Resources

Community Outreach

On behalf of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, welcome to our Community Outreach website. The U.S. Courts are an independent national judiciary providing fair and impartial justice within the jurisdiction conferred by the Constitution and Congress. Our Founding Fathers understood the need for an independent Judiciary, which was created under Article III of the United States Constitution. The Judicial Branch is one of the three separate and distinct branches of the Federal Government.

The Community Outreach Program is designed to provide a better understanding of the federal courts. We are proud to offer field trips to the courthouse for both schools and community organizations. We have a Judicial Speakers Bureau where a Judge can come to your school or organization to lead an informative and educational program. Visits to the courthouse include an opportunity to observe courtroom proceedings, meet and speak with a judge, and learn more about careers within the Court and much more.

If you have any questions, please contact the Community Outreach Program at Community-Outreach@ilnd.uscourts.gov.