Palo Alto teachers can invite a sitting judge into their classroom this September at no cost, as the Santa Clara County Superior Court ramps up civic education for Constitution Month.

Starting Tuesday, Sept. 1, judges will fan out to K-12 schools across the county for classroom visits, educational presentations and community events, the court announced Aug. 17. The program targets fifth graders in particular but is open to all grade levels.

The effort is part of Chief Justice Patricia Guerrero's America250 Outreach Challenge, a statewide initiative tied to the nation's 250th anniversary. Santa Clara County's court has pledged to reach at least 250 students by the end of 2026 and expects to hit that number during September alone.

"Students K-12 become our future leaders, judges, attorneys, and jurors and it is imperative that they have a strong background in civic education and engagement," Judge Julia Alloggiamento, chair of the court's Community Outreach Committee, said in the announcement. "Constitution Month is just the beginning of a school year full of opportunities to connect with our Court."

Alloggiamento also serves as vice-lead of the Power of Democracy Initiative, the statewide civic learning program that coordinates the visits.

How to sign up

Teachers at any Santa Clara County school, including those in the Palo Alto Unified School District, can request a judicial officer visit by signing up at powerofdemocracy.org. Questions can be directed to [email protected].

The program is free.

Judges lead sessions on the U.S. Constitution, the role of the judicial branch and civic participation. Formats range from classroom Q&A sessions to mock trials and courthouse tours.

The court's marquee Constitution Month event will take place Friday, Sept. 25, at August Boeger Middle School in San Jose. Boeger earned a 2026 Civic Learning Award of Honorable Mention from Chief Justice Guerrero for its civic engagement programming, and judges will present the award in person as part of the September celebration.

Multiple California courts, including San Benito County's, have accepted the America250 challenge for 2026, according to BenitoLink. Teachers interested in scheduling a visit can sign up at powerofdemocracy.org or email [email protected].