Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 August 2005
Judicial decisions are an integral part of American politics and,despite the presence of written and explicated opinions of federaljudges, the internal deliberations and decision making processes ofjudges themselves remains a mystery to many. A burgeoning body ofliterature focuses on the use of simulations to engage students andbridge theory to practical application. Few simulations target thejudicial component of politics, despite its natural disposition forgroup participation in a simulation project.Richard J. (Rick) Hardy is the director of theInstitute for Leadership in Civic Education, director of theNational Institute for Advanced Civic Studies (sponsored by theCenter for Civic Education), and assistant director of theHonors College at the University of Missouri-Columbia. Heregularly teaches courses in American politics, constitutionallaw, and the Supreme Court. His publications include:Government in America (Houghton Mifflin),Missouri Government and Politics (MissouriPress), Civic Education (Pearson), andPolitics: The Art of Drawing Dividing Lines(Thomson). Hardy also serves as a political commentator fornumerous national outlets and is a presidential elector in theElectoral College. Chapman Rackaway teaches courses in Americangovernment, political campaign management, political parties,and voting behavior at Fort Hays State University. He is thedirector and advisor for the Political Campaigns and Managementtract at FHSU. He has published in the Journal ofPolitics and has consulted on numerous state andnational political races. Laurie E. Sonnier currently teachessocial studies courses at St. Martin high school in OceanSprings, Mississippi. She earned her B.A. in political scienceat the University of Southern Mississippi and her M.Ed. inEducation from Bowie State University. Laurie has won numerousteaching awards and has been actively involved with the NationalCouncil for the Social Studies and the Center for CivicEducation. She is the co-editor of Voices of Advocacy inAmerican Democracy (Pearson).