Pumpkin Spice Lattes  in one hand and informational pamphlets in the other, students in AP US Government and US History approached the Santa Barbara Courthouse on Sept. 17
Inside the Courthouse, a number of local judges, lawyers, and professors organized their notes for the Brown v. Board of Education lecture.
The program was organized by local lawyers (members of the American Board of Trial Advocates) and high school educators to celebrate Constitution Day.
Students were invited to hear lectures by nationally recognized speakers on constitutional issues.
The speakers included former California Supreme Court Justice, Carlos Moreno (retired this year) and UCLA law professor, Cheryl Harris.
Professor Harris discussed the significance of the Supreme Court decision of Brown v. Board of Education. Others discussed the effects of racism on modern society.“I thought Professor Cheryl L. Harris was incredibly engaging. The paradox of affirmative action and racial preference in the college application process was so thought provoking.
The lecture challenged me to think about the racial equality in a pressing and profound way,” junior Olivia Berci said.
Students who attended will attest to the fact that the speakers inspired a myriad of reactions from their listeners.
“I found the experience of getting a profoundly deeper insight into certain aspects of our government, very inspirational,” senior Troy Ritter said.
Attending students have the option to participate in a scholarship essay contest.
The essay topic was announced at the lecture. Three scholarships will be awarded.
Brown v. Board of Education was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. After three years, the case ended on May 17, 1954 with the court finding in favor of Linda Brown.