Western District of New York

Hometowns Program

Fall Semester 2026

Investigate local Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson’s first written opinion, First Amendment case West Virginia v. Barnette (1943).

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Application Due Apr 24, 2026 11:59 pm

Investigate the Supreme Court case West Virginia v. Barnette (1943) and learn more about one of New York’s Supreme Court Associate Justices, Robert H. Jackson. Participate in a free semester-long program in conjunction with the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York. The Hometowns program includes:

Expert speakers from your community
Panel discussions with judges, attorneys, and other court staff
Live court proceedings
Group learning activities

Create a collaborative capstone project to educate your community about the case and Justice Jackson’s impact.

Program Details

Summer orientation day: August 2026; date to be determined

Program Dates: Select Tuesdays from September 15–December 8

Time: 4–6 p.m.

Locations: This program serves students in both the Buffalo and Rochester areas and will be held at two locations.

Robert H. Jackson Courthouse; Buffalo, NY
Kenneth B. Keating Federal Building; Rochester, NY

Important: Please submit your academic reference via the online submission form at the bottom of this page by the application deadline: May 4, 2026, 5 p.m. ET.

Learn about the Supreme Court in your Hometown

Explore a First Amendment case featuring local Supreme Court Justice Robert H. Jackson’s first majority opinion
Collaborate with students from across the Buffalo/Rochester region
Network with Federal Judges, area attorneys, historians, and local advocates
Educate your community about its local history with a capstone project

Eligibility

To apply for Hometowns Western District of New York, students must:

Be a current or rising 10th, 11th, or 12th grader
Be able to attend all sessions in-person
Obtain 1 (one) academic reference

This program did a really great job at immersing you into the federal court system, and the opportunity to talk to guest speakers and federal judges allows you to ask any pestering questions you may have that other programs just can’t give. To meeting new friends from around the county, to interviewing SCOTUS attorneys, the Hometown Program provides a comprehensive curriculum to educate rising advocates of our government.

David S.

Going into this week, I was kinda hesitant because I’m unfamiliar with the law, which is notoriously complex. But I genuinely had such a great time and learned so much about our judicial system. I genuinely feel very supported and encouraged to pursue a career in law or civic service.

Sofia Y.

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Western District of New York 2026 Flyer
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Still have questions? We’re here to help.

Email Juliet Morris, Curriculum Development Manager, at [email protected].

Email Juliet

Hometowns Application

First Name

Last Name

Email Address

Telephone Number (where best to reach you):

Date of Birth

Age

High School

Grade Level

Home Address:

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State

Zip Code

Allergy/Dietary Concerns or Restrictions:

Additional Questions

Use of AI during the application process, beyond basic grammar, is strongly discouraged. We seek to read genuine and unique submissions, not content generated by AI. Please note words limits on certain prompts. Any words that exceed the limit will not be considered.

How did you hear about the Supreme Court and My Hometown Program?

Who is writing your Academic Letter of Reference? Why did you choose that individual? (100 words max)

500 How (Max

What interests you about the judicial branch? (Max 250 words)

What type of student are you? Why should we select you for this program? (Max 250 words)

Why do you want to participate in this program? (Max 500 words)

Students applying to the Hometowns Program may submit their letter of recommendation separately from their application. Feel free to share the link with your recommender. All letters of recommendation are due by the application close date.