Several Madison County judges spent the day with students at local elementary schools by participating in the second annual Judges Go to School Day on Feb. 12.
The event is a project of the Illinois Judges Association and focuses on children in grades kindergarten through 4th grade. The judges work to encourage students to appreciate, value and enjoy reading.
Circuit Judges Amy Maher and Amy Sholar and Associate Judges Veronica Armouti, Andrew Carruthers, Angela Donohoo and Justin Zimmerman took part in the event this year. They read Abe Lincoln’s Hat by Martha Brenner or Be You by Peter H. Reynolds to students at Renfro and Webster Elementary Schools in Collinsville, Eunice Smith Elementary School in Alton and Venice Elementary School in Granite City.
The judges discussed the books’ intersection with history and the law and donated the books to each school library.
“We are pleased to partner with Madison County schools and teachers on the importance of youth literacy,” Carruthers said. “We hope to inspire further interest in reading and our legal system. The in-class interactions with the students make the reading program enjoyable.”
“As judges, we are committed to community engagement,” Zimmerman said. “The Judges Go to School Day is a great way to honor the legacy of Abraham Lincoln with our local students.”
Judge Sholar
Judge Maher
Judge Carruthers
Judge Zimmerman
Judge Donohoo
Judge Armouti