Judiciary Learning Center Bridges Gap Between Science and Law

The new Federal Circuit Center for Innovation and Law offers students an immersive learning experience that connects science, technology, civics, and law in the nation’s capital.

“The Federal Circuit was created to encourage American innovation by providing uniform legal structure for intellectual property,” said Chief Judge Kimberly A. Moore, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, in a news release. “Our new Center brings that mission full circle by inspiring the next generation of innovators while showing them firsthand how law, science, and technology intersect in our democracy.” 

The learning center at the historic National Courts Building on Lafayette Square, in Washington, D.C., lets middle and high school students explore how ideas become inventions, how protests can lead to changes in the law, and how courts influence daily life. 

The center is one of a growing number of civics education centers, museums, and exhibits in federal court buildings across the country. Educational materials at the centers include information and activities about the Constitution, landmark Supreme Court cases, federal court basics, jury service, and careers in the federal court system. 

Students also explore the historic houses that make up the Federal Circuit building. The homes once headquartered NASA, the National Woman's Party, and other organizations that shaped the nation’s history. The experience includes a mock trial segment, which allows students to play the roles of attorneys, jurors, and judge. Each visit also features a personal conversation with a federal judge, offering a unique window into how the law influences our daily lives and future innovations.

“Through our tour program, we will invite students to explore the rich history that happened in our buildings that helped shape civic life in both the District of Columbia and the nation over the past two centuries,” Moore said.

The approximately 2,400-square-foot learning space opened on Sept. 15 and has already attracted 300 student visitors. The Center offers scheduled tours Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. by appointment only. For information on scheduling a guided tour or class field trip, visit the Center for Innovation and Law website.

Learning centers and educational exhibits across the country include:

California

• Justice Anthony M. Kennedy Library and Learning Center, Robert T. Matsui U.S. Courthouse in Sacramento
• The Learning Center of the Southern District of California, James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep U.S. Courthouse in San Diego

Indiana

• Federal Court Learning Center, Birch Bayh Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Indianapolis 

Illinois

• Court History Museum, Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago

Massachusetts

• Justice Stephen G. Breyer Community Learning Center on Courts and the Constitution, John Joseph Moakley U.S. Courthouse in Boston

Minnesota

• Justice and Democracy Center, Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in St. Paul

Missouri

• The Judicial Learning Center, Thomas F. Eagleton U.S. Courthouse in St. Louis
• Judicial Education and History Center, Rush H. Limbaugh, Sr., U.S. Courthouse in Cape Girardeau

New York

• Justice for All: Courts and the Community Learning Center, Thurgood Marshall U.S. Courthouse in New York City

Oklahoma

• Federal Judicial Learning Center & Museum, U.S. Bankruptcy Courthouse in Oklahoma City

To find educational court programs at the nearest federal courthouse, contact the federal courts’ national educational outreach manager, Rebecca Fanning. Visit the educational resources section for additional programs and activities.