Justice and Democracy Centers of Minnesota is a program of the Federal Bar Association that hosts civic education programs digitally and in person at district courts in Minnesota. ^{1 2}

The Justice and Democracy Centers of Minnesota, under the guidance of the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota, employs left-of-center principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in determining what it includes in its exhibits and how it presents them. To fulfill its DEI initiatives, the Justice and Democracy Centers of Minnesota creates exhibits that address race issues, gender issues, issues pertaining to LGBT people, the citizenship process, and religious issues. ³

Background

Justice and Democracy Centers of Minnesota is a civic education program hosted by the United States District Court of Minnesota in St. Paul that was opened in October 2024 and is fiscally sponsored under the Federal Bar Association’s National Foundation. ¹ The program was planned in 2021 to be funded under the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association and expressed plans to open a second center within the Diana E. Murphy U.S. Courthouse in Minneapolis. ^{4 5}

The Justice and Democracy Centers of Minnesota consists of a website and education center at the St. Paul, Minnesota, Warren E. Burger Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse. It is open to the public and coordinates field trips with schools. It includes exhibitions that discuss the role of the judiciary, describing it as fundamental to America’s democracy. ²

Exhibitions

From January 2021 through February 2022, Justice and Democracy Centers of Minnesota featured its first exhibition, covering the 1920 lynching of three Black men in Duluth, Minnesota. The exhibition outlines the events that led to the lynching of circus workers Elias Clayton, Elmer Jackson, and Isaac McGhie who were suspects of a rape that the exhibition reports had conflicting claims from the victim. The lynchings took place by a mob that broke the men out of jail before they could be tried, and the exhibition uses the story to advocate for the right to a trial. ⁶

Justice and Democracy Centers of Minnesota’s Court of the People exhibition provides an overview of jury duty, voting, and naturalization (formally conferring citizenship on immigrants) as functions of the justice system. ⁷ It offers activities and lesson plans, linking to iCivics lessons that teach about the judiciary, the Constitution, due process, and equal protection. ⁸

Justice and Democracy Centers of Minnesota’s Foundations and Framework exhibition discusses how the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution and established a framework, including questions to incite criticisms of how it could “fall short” of what it claims to be “our highest ideals.” The exhibition includes various activities, including one that talks about the balance of power between state and federal governments, presenting a federalist system as favorable. It also includes activities that examine the concept of rule of law, the branches of government, and the different court systems. ⁹

The Justice and Democracy Centers of Minnesota’s Landmark Cases exhibition discusses the concept of landmark cases, describing it as a “shift” in how laws are interpreted. It includes references to cases associated with various forms of rights as well as cases that it claims to set precedent for restrictions and limits on speech. Regarding speech, it references Schenck v. United States, Brandenburg v. Ohio, and Texas v. Johnson. ¹⁰

Funding

The Justice and Democracy Centers of Minnesota reports that it receives funding from media conglomerate Thomson Reuters, the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, food manufacturer Cargill, US Bank, and Taft Stettinius and Hollister, among numerous other law firms. ¹

1.  “Community Supporters.” Justice & Democracy Centers, October 11, 2024. https://justicedemocracycentersmn.org/about-us/community-supporters/
2. “About Us.” Justice & Democracy Centers, July 19, 2023. https://justicedemocracycentersmn.org/about-us/.
3. “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.” Justice & Democracy Centers, July 6, 2023. https://justicedemocracycentersmn.org/about-us/diversity-equity-inclusion/.
4. “Taft Supports U.S. District Court Justice & Democracy Center Grand Opening.” Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, November 1, 2024. https://www.taftlaw.com/news-events/news/taft-supports-u-s-district-court-justice-democracy-center-grand-opening/.
5. Bar Talk 15, no. 1 (September 15, 2021). https://www.fedbar.org/minnesota-chapter/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2021/10/Minn-Chap-September-2021-Bar-Talk.pdf
6. “Rotating Exhibit.” Justice & Democracy Centers, July 13, 2023. https://justicedemocracycentersmn.org/exhibits/rotating-exhibit/.
7.  “Court of the People.” Justice & Democracy Centers, February 8, 2024. https://justicedemocracycentersmn.org/exhibits/court-of-the-people/.
8. “What Is Justice?” Justice and Democracy Centers. Accessed November 4, 2024. https://justicedemocracycentersmn.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/JDC-Lesson-Plan-What-Is-Justice-MS.pdf.
9. “Foundations & Framework.” Justice & Democracy Centers, February 8, 2024. https://justicedemocracycentersmn.org/exhibits/foundations-framework/.
10. “Landmark Cases.” Justice & Democracy Centers, February 8, 2024. https://justicedemocracycentersmn.org/exhibits/landmark-cases/.