Former Indiana Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard is calling on the legal community to take on a greater role in educating the public about law and government. In his essay for The Atlantic, Justice Shepard explains,
 
“Judges and lawyers have traditionally not viewed themselves as having a central role in public education about law and government. We thought that other elements of society had ownership of that task. But the diminished capacity of some of these elements (especially the incredible shrinking press), suggest that the profession must be more assertive on this front.”

Some of the justice’s recommendations for bringing civics to the public include embracing technology, as well as broadening the use of traditional forms of media. He also suggests that courts can collaborate with teachers and students to make civic education part of the school curriculum.
 
Justice Randall concludes, “I’ve seen first-hand the difference in public engagement that energetic outreach by the legal profession can produce.”