Power of Democracy Civic Learning Initiative

On September 19, 2023, Administrative Presiding Justice Judith McConnell presented to the Judicial Council a 10-year retrospective on the work of the Power of Democracy Civic Learning Initiative (POD). In her report, she made recommendations on the future of POD to Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero who was appointed earlier that year. View video.

In February 2024, the chief justice adopted the Power Democracy as an initiative to inspire the state judicial branch. She appointed Presiding Justice Judith McConnell and Santa Clara County Judge Julia Alloggiamento to drive the effort. In its first year, the initiative launched a website to engage educators and build community around court outreach. Visit powerofdemocracy.org

The Power of Democracy Steering Committee
The POD Steering Committee was founded on the recommendations of the Commission for Impartial Courts Final Report, Recommendations 37 and 43. The California Department of Education provided meeting space and staff for the quarterly meetings where several programs and resources were tested. Several judges and educators volunteered to serve on the committee for five terms (10 years). Their work resulted in partnerships where advocates in education can seek creative ways to connect with courts statewide. They committee worked on the 2016 History-Social Studies Framework update and supported the development of the State Seal of Civic Engagement. Today, Judges in the Classroom is connected to court outreach efforts in almost every county in California.

The Civic Learning Award for California K-12 public schools, is co-sponsored by California Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero and California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. Each year, the award spotlights successful efforts that engage students in civic learning. 
 

The California Task Force on K-12 Civic Learning was created to bring definition to the skills, knowledge, and dispositions our students need to be informed and engaged citizens and community members, including serving as jurors and court-users. The Task Force’s final report is a blueprint for how we can achieve these outcomes for all students in California.