More than two dozen high school juniors from mid-Missouri’s New Franklin were guests of the Missouri Supreme Court for Monday’s ribbon cutting and grand opening of the Supreme Court’s new Judicial Discovery Center in Jefferson City.
The center includes numerous interactive exhibits, portraits, photos and history about the Missouri Supreme Court and state government. State Supreme Court Judge Mary Russell tells 939 the Eagle that it’s wonderful that the New Franklin students could attend:
“I’m so glad they could see firsthand the many exhibits and many displays here so they could learn more about the judiciary and understand the importance of their town to the history of our (Missouri Supreme) Court,” she says.
Judge Russell notes the state Supreme Court held its first session ever in 1821 in mid-Missouri’s Franklin, which flooded in 1826. Most of the residents moved to what is now called New Franklin.
Students from the small mid-Missouri town of New Franklin joined Missouri Supreme Court judges for Monday’s grand opening. New Franklin, which has about 1,000 residents, is 30 miles from Columbia. New Franklin R-1 junior Jonah Bishop tells 939 the Eagle that the center is inspirational to students in his rural community. He particularly enjoyed the display and photos of the seven Missouri Supreme Court judges:
“They put in the picture of their family or just things that they like and their common life. I thought that was a really cool thing just because it shows that the judges are also people and they also have things that like too and hobbies that they have,” he says.
Jonah Bishop says the display shows students that can be you someday. This is the first time New Franklin students have toured the Missouri Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court of Missouri Historical Society led the capital fundraising campaign for the project and raised more than $400,000 in contributions, according to Society President Robert Clayton III, who serves on the Missouri Court of Appeals. Judge Clayton spoke at Monday’s ceremony.