Every year, the Tennessee Supreme Court helps educate rising high school seniors about the judicial system through participation in Boys and Girls State. These programs are part of SCALES – Supreme Court Advancing Legal Education for Students – established in 1995. Justice Sarah K. Campbell participated in the 80th session of American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Volunteer Girls State at Lipscomb University.
“The young men and women who attend Boys State and Girls State are some of Tennessee’s best and brightest students. It is a tremendous privilege to visit with these future leaders to help them better understand the judiciary and the important role it plays in our system of government,” said Justice Campbell.
Volunteer Girls State (VGS) students are competitively selected and sponsored by American Legion Auxiliary. Participants learn about the political process by electing officials for all levels of state government and actively managing a mock government. Although the young women are assigned to mock cities and either the “Federalist Party” or “Nationalist Party,” assistance from ALA volunteers ensures the program’s nonpartisan governmental, patriotic, and civic objectives are carried out through interactive learning.
“What I love about our fireside chat with the women of the TN Supreme Court at Girls State is that these women don't lecture. They sit down in front of over 500 seventeen-year-olds and tell them the truth—about the doubts, the wrong turns, the people who underestimated them along the way. The girls come expecting a lesson in how the courts work. What they leave with is permission to be ambitious and uncertain at the same time, from women who have lived exactly that. I can't think of a better gift to give a girl at seventeen," said Jenise Gordon, ALA VGS Chairwoman
Since 1947, more than 25,000 young women have participated in the program which provides students with the tools they need to become confident, informed citizens and voters.
“The SCALES program allows the delegates to watch the dignified, solemn procedure of the members of the Supreme Court entering the room, being seated on the bench, and introducing themselves to the delegates. Typically, the delegates are mesmerized by hearing the arguments in the case. They go back to their high school and tell everyone what their case was about and how they think the Supreme Court will decide it,” said COL(R) Jim Reed, Chair, TN American Legion Boys State.
This year, 400 young men participated in the 87th Tennessee American Legion Volunteer Boys State 2026 (VBS) which was held at Tennessee Tech University, in Cookeville, for the 61st consecutive year.
Boys State participants create and operate a mock state government run by two mythical parties – the Jacksonians or Johnsonians. They learn about the legislative, executive, and judicial branches while developing leadership, teamwork, and civic engagement skills.
“Boys State is a great way to immerse young men in the workings of the judicial system. It’s exciting to see the interest they show while listening to oral arguments. One of the most enjoyable parts of the program is when my fellow justices and I get to spend time interacting with the students on a more personal level off the bench,” said Chief Justice Jeff Bivins.
Boys State encourages young men to become informed, active citizens and future leaders in their communities.
“Hundreds of Boys State delegates have had their lives changed forever as a result of the positive experience of the Supreme Court hearing a case in front of them. Many decide to go to law school based on the experience of hearing a real case before the Supreme Court,” said, COL Reed.
Students of VGS and VBS represent all 95 counties in Tennessee.
