U.S. Magistrate Judge Jon A. York (JCM ’93) connected students to unique program
JACKSON, Tenn. – Four Jackson-Madison County School System students recently concluded a unique educational program that provided firsthand insight into the federal judiciary and the United States Supreme Court.
Carter Washington (JCM-ECH), Kimora Hurt (JCM-ECH), Jeremiah McGill (Madison Academic), and Cayde Hayes (South Side) were among a select group of students chosen to participate in the Supreme Court and My Hometown program, a partnership between the United States District Court for the Western District of Tennessee and the Supreme Court Historical Society.
The program concluded on Oct. 8, 2026, when students traveled to Memphis to present the final phase of their work at the Odell Horton Federal Building. Their research culminated in a five-panel exhibit exploring the history of Watson v. City of Memphis, its path through the federal court system, and the role of the judiciary in protecting constitutional rights. The exhibit was the result of months of study that began during students’ spring break in March and continued through fall break activities in October.
Through lectures, question-and-answer sessions, group activities, and field experiences, students explored the judicial branch and federal court system through the landmark civil rights case Watson v. City of Memphis (1963), examining its legal significance and its impact on the desegregation of public parks and recreational facilities in Memphis.
The program concluded on Oct. 8, 2026, when students traveled to Memphis to present the final phase of their work at the Odell Horton Federal Building. Their research culminated in a five-panel exhibit exploring the history of Watson v. City of Memphis, its path through the federal court system, and the role of the judiciary in protecting constitutional rights. The exhibit was the result of months of study that began during students’ spring break in March and continued through fall break activities in October.
Through lectures, question-and-answer sessions, group activities, and field experiences, students explored the judicial branch and federal court system through the landmark civil rights case Watson v. City of Memphis (1963), examining its legal significance and its impact on the desegregation of public parks and recreational facilities in Memphis.
JMCSS students Carter Washington, left to right, Kimora Hurt, Cayde Hayes, and Jeremiah McGill pose with their completed exhibit at the Odell Horton Federal Building in Memphis. Their research examined Watson v. City of Memphis and the role of the federal judiciary in protecting constitutional rights)
