Judicial Independence: An International Comparison Service. A Lesson Plan for High School Law-Related Educators To Support 'Understanding the Federal Courts.'

It is widely believed that the judiciary can maintain the rule of law and guarantee fundamental rights only if it is independent from political and other pressures. Most countries have provisions in their constitutions guaranteeing an independent judiciary. Usually, this independence has two faces: institutional measures that separate the judiciary as an autonomous governmental structure, and provisions that regulate certain procedures that may influence judges' individual decisions. With this lesson plan students examine excerpts from constitutions of several countries (the United States, France, China and Hong Kong, and India) to determine what measures each prescribes for judicial independence. The lesson plan provides an overview, educational objectives, links to social studies standards, materials needed, handouts, and step-by-step classroom procedures. Includes a comparison chart and case study questions and answers. (BT)