Mapping to MN State Standards
BACK TO RESOURCE PACKS HOME
The resources on this page have been selected by eLibraryMN and Minnesota Digital Library librarians and curators to support the MN English Language Arts and the Social Studies standards, both current and pending, specifically related to the judiciary that are relevant to students. Resources in eLibraryMN and EbooksMN have unlimited simultaneous user access and are freely available to anyone geolocated in Minnesota. The primary source resources detailed are available to all, regardless of location.
Please reach out with questions or suggestions about linking to, using, or sharing these resources.
Academic Research
Below is a collection of available topic overviews that link to many related articles and resources within ELM.
Britannica Elementary/Middle/High School: The Judicial Branch
Remember that you can change reading levels in the control bar, and share the URL for that reading level with your students.
Pebble Go has a dedicated section of its Biographies module just for Supreme Court Justices.
Explora has a concise introductory article to Courts in the United States for a clear, short explanation of federal and state judicial systems.
Explora Middle allows students to research famous court cases such as Marbury v. Madison or Brown v. Board of Education to find both primary source information and academic analysis and research related to the impact of the court decisions.
Gale Middle has a topic collection all about the judiciary, and don't forget to view the links to related topics to dive deeper into their accessible and reliable content here: The Judiciary and related topics
Ebooks
This is a curated group of fiction and nonfiction ebooks related to citizenship, Grade Interest Level K-8. All titles are available to students geolocated in MN without login. Linking directly to chapters is also possible. To link directly to the titles and share in your LMS or libguides, copy the link to the title(s) you want from our persistent link spreadsheet (if you are not accessing through the MackinVia app). Reach out to us with questions about linking.
The U.S. Supreme Court
Introduces readers to the history of the U.S. Supreme Court through simple, informative text and full-color illustrations. Includes Supreme Court facts, a glossary, and a list of resources for further study. (Grades K-2)
The U.S. Supreme Court
Examines the history of the U.S. Supreme Court, from its first session in New York City in 1790 to the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor, the first Latina justice to serve on the Supreme Court. Includes a glossary, resources for further information, and color photographs. (Grades 5-8)
Law and order
Examines the Constitution and the judicial system of the United States. Profiles courts at city, state, and federal levels, along with law enforcement.
Judges
Describes the responsibilities of a judge, the importance of knowing the law, and their role within the legal system. Discusses the impact of their decisions on people's lives. Includes color photos, a glossary, and an index.
Serving on a jury
Presents an overview of the role of jurors in a jury trial, and discusses jury members' duties, responsibilities, and limitations while they are serving on a jury. Includes a glossary and a list of additional resources.
Primary Sources
Resources below are recommended by MDL curators from partners in primary source history.
First Rules of Court for Minnesota
Harvey Wilson, District Court clerk in Stillwater, recorded the first Rules of Court for Minnesota Territory in 1849 - before Minnesota was even a state.
Many early courthouses in Minnesota were simple and functional buildings like this one in Brunswick, unlike the more elaborate and decorative courthouses that came later.
This is what the District Courtroom in the county courthouse in Olivia looked like in the early 20th century.
Diary of Juror E. Fitch Pabody
Pabody served as a juror in the trial of Frank Hamilton, who was charged with first degree manslaughter. He kept a detailed record of the court's proceedings, his fellow jurors, and even the room where they stayed during the trial.
Hiram Mendow started his law career as a practicing attorney in Minneapolis working on several famous cases before he became a judge.
The second Stevens County courthouse building was completed in 1884, and it served as the county's judicial headquarters until 1957 when it was replaced by a more modern facility.
Interview with former Minnesota Supreme Court Justice Alan Page
Alan C. Page was elected to the Minnesota Supreme Court in 1992 and retired in 2015. He was interviewed in 2019 about his early life, his education and football career, his law career, and his time on the Supreme Court. Plus, listen to other recordings from the Minnesota Supreme Court Historical Society Oral History Project.
Interlibrary Loan/Resource Sharing
For in depth research into these topics, sometimes you need to request materials from other libraries. These can be digital or they can sometimes be printed books. There are two main options for requesting these materials. One, MNLINK, allows you to search all Minnesota libraries for the requires the use of a public library card and PIN. While many educators use their own library card to help students, it is recommended that students use their own. However, this is not always possible, so there is a second option: Minitex Resource sharing for schools. This allows one staff member per school to request items on behalf of students and have the items sent directly to the school building. If you have questions about which option is better for you and your students, reach out to us and we can help.