IIllinois Supreme Court justice visits

By SARAH HALLSTEIN ’12

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas L. Kilbride

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas L. Kilbride visited campus in April to deliver a presentation on the importance of civic literacy and the Judicial Education Program. The event was sponsored by Bradley’s Pre-Law Center and the Institute for Principled Leadership in Public Service.

Kilbride discussed how education policy has shifted focus in the United States, and children are learning less about how the government functions. Kilbride said this problem is partly a result of the No Child Left Behind Act, as many teachers feel like they must focus on preparing students to pass standardized tests.

Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas L. Kilbride

He noted the possible effects of this trend and suggested students of all ages can fight this lack of knowledge by participating in mock trials or moot courts to get a feel for the legal process.

“I know something like this will never become as popular as Friday night football, but it’s important that people understand the foundation — how our government was founded and how it operates,” Kilbride told his audience.

Kilbride practiced law in the Rock Island area for 20 years before being elected to the Supreme Court’s Third District in 2000. He also has served as president of the Illinois Township Attorneys Association.