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Pennsylvania Students Get Firsthand Look at State Courts During America250PA Civic Learning Initiative: Appellate judges engage students ahead of Pennsylvania House Legislative Session at Congress Hall
September 11, 2026
On Wednesday, Pennsylvania appellate judges joined high school students from across the state today for a civics education program held in conjunction with the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ Legislative Session at Congress Hall in Independence Square.
Developed in partnership with America250PA, the program had participating state representatives select students from their districts who had demonstrated interest in civic engagement to attend as an opportunity to see how each branch contributes to the state’s system of representative government.
Before gathering at the National Constitution Center to watch the livestream of the legislative session, students headed to Carpenters’ Hall for presentations led by Justices Sallie Updyke Mundy and Daniel McCaffery of the Supreme Court; President Judge Anne Lazarus and Judges Victor Stabile, Alice Dubow, Megan Sullivan, Jill Beck and Brandon Neuman of the Superior Court; and Judges Lori Dumas and Stella Tsai of the Commonwealth Court.
There, students participated in an interactive discussion of the work of Pennsylvania’s three appellate courts, learned about the judiciary’s role in state government and engaged directly with judges.
“Philadelphia is a place where the foundations of our government and our nation’s history are all around us, and bringing students here to learn about the courts provides a meaningful way to connect that history with the work of Pennsylvania’s judiciary today and the role it continues to play in our system of government,” Justice Mundy said.
“Students are not just learning about government – they are the citizens who will shape its future,” Justice McCaffery said. “Connecting with them today helps reinforce the importance of understanding and participating in our democracy, while giving them a better understanding of how our court system operates to serve the people of Pennsylvania.”
“This was a unique opportunity to bring students from across the Commonwealth face-to-face with the people who serve in our state’s judicial branch and help them better understand how our courts fit into our system of government,” said Judge Beck. “Civics education is most meaningful when students have the opportunity to ask questions, engage in the conversation and understand how the institutions they are learning about actually work.”
This program is part of the Pennsylvania Courts’ participation in the America250 commemoration, with jurists and court staff joining commemorations and educational initiatives throughout the year highlighting the state’s judicial history and the role of the courts in civic life. As part of those efforts, the Courts’ civics education webpage was recently expanded to include a new America250 section with resources that help students better understand Pennsylvania’s courts, government and history.
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Media contact: Casey Scheffler, 610-425-1712
Editor’s Note: Photos are available upon request.