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Brookside Charter School students learn how to apply Fourth Amendment


Jackson County Judge Janette Rodecap speaks with Brookside Charter School studentsJackson County Associate Circuit Judge Janette Rodecap helped a group of eighth-graders learn how the constitution applies at school during presentations she made October 26, 2021, at Brookside Charter School in Kansas City.

Using the "Can the School Search You and Your Stuff?" presentation, developed by the Supreme Court of Missouri's civic education committee, Rodecap engaged two classes of students in a discussion of the Fourth Amendment, search warrants and searches of students at school. 

"We discussed concepts like probable cause and the history of the Fourth Amendment, and I presented scenarios to students in which they had to decide whether a search was reasonable," Rodecap said. "I also answered questions about my work as a judge, as well as my career path."Jackson County Judge Janette Rodecap asks middle school students whether a search is reasonable under the Fourth Amendment

If you are interested in having a judge make a presentation at your school, please contact the civic education committee at Civic.Education@courts.mo.gov. Presentations are available for both in-person and virtual learning environments.


For more information about the activities of the Supreme Court of Missouri’s Committee on Civic Education, please visit News & Media.