Minneapolis, MN

Hometowns Program

Summer 2026

Investigate local landmark First Amendment case Near v. Minnesota (1931).

Apply Now

Application Due Apr 30, 2026 11:59 pm

Investigate the historic Supreme Court case Near v. Minnesota (1931). Participate in a free week-long program in conjunction with the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota. The Hometowns program includes:

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

Create a collaborative capstone project to educate your community about the landmark First Amendment decision.

Program Details

Date: July 20–24, 2026

Location: Diana E. Murphy United States Courthouse

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

Learn about the Supreme Court in your Hometown

Explore a local First Amendment case
Collaborate with students from across the Twin Cities
Network with Federal and State Judges, area attorneys, historians, and local advocates
Educate your community about its local history through a capstone project

Eligibility

To apply for Hometowns Minneapolis, 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

The Hometowns program has a wide variety of all kids from different parts of the area and allows you to create connections—which I believe is really vital in the law field—and you can dip your toes into the amazing world of law. On day 1 I said “Wow. How am I going to get to know all of these things?” and by day 5 I felt as if I could go teach my friends about the Judicial System. That’s how easy it is to learn and I think the My Hometown program really did a great job of creating that want-to-learn atmosphere.

London O.

Write down any and every question you have about something. Don’t be afraid to ask them! Judges, lawyers, and court staff were so kind and excited to share their knowledge with students.

Gaby J.

DOWNLOADS

Minneapolis Hometowns Flyer 2026
Document

Still have questions? We’re here to help.

Email Jamie Higgins Shaull, Civics Program Coordinator at [email protected].

Email Jamie

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)

School Address words

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.