Chattanooga, TN 2026

Hometowns Program

Summer 2026

Investigate the historic Ed Johnson v. Tennessee (1906) case and the Supreme Court of the United States’ first and only criminal trial, United States v. Shipp (1909).

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Application Due Mar 30, 2026 5:00 pm

Investigate the historic Ed Johnson case and Supreme Court case United States v. Shipp (1909). Participate in a free two-week-long program in conjunction with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. The Hometowns program includes:

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

Create a collaborative capstone project to educate your community about the case’s impact. Lunch, snacks, and Supreme Court swag will be provided to all participants.

Program Details

Date: June 8–19 (excluding weekends and Juneteenth)

Time: 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

Location: Joel W. Solomon Federal Building & UT Chattanooga

Important: Please submit your academic reference via the online submission form at the bottom of this page by the application deadline: March 30, 2026, 5 p.m ET.

Learn about the Supreme Court in Your Hometown

Explore a local case that turned into the only criminal trial ever before the Supreme Court
Collaborate with students from across your district
Network with Federal Judges, area attorneys, historians, and local advocates
Educate your community about its history with a capstone project

Eligibility

To apply for Hometowns Chattanooga, 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

I would recommend the Supreme Court and My Hometown program! Even if someone is not interested in studying laws this is such an eye opening program in which you learn so much more than what you would think you would learn. It lets you explore distinct careers and it is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Ambar R.

Hometowns proved to be an excellent experience for my development in areas such as public speaking, critical thinking, and teamwork. I was able to meet new people and learn in ways that were both interactive and educational. Programs like these are amazing for students who seek future careers in law, government, or just want to obtain new valuable knowledge in a supportive and challenging environment. I would totally recommend it!

Enrique M.

DOWNLOADS

Chattanooga Hometowns Flyer 2026
Document

Still have questions? We’re here to help.

Email Nicole Maffei, Director of Civics Education, at [email protected].

Email Nicole

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)

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)

participate Email Supreme

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.

Letter of Recommendation – Chattanooga, TN