Celebrating America's 250th at Carpenters' Hall

On September 9, 2026, ten jurists from Pennsylvania’s three appellate courts held education sessions about our judicial system with approximately ninety high school juniors and seniors from across the Commonwealth.  This program was in conjunction with the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ Legislative Session at Congress Hall in Independence Square, and developed in partnership with America 250PA.  Participating state representatives selected students from their districts who had demonstrated interest in civic engagement to attend as an opportunity to see how each branch contributes to the state’s system of representative government.

(l to r) Superior Court Judge Jill Beck, Supreme Court Justice Sallie Updyke Mundy, Superior Court Judge Megan Sullivan, Commonwealth Court Judge Stella Tsai

Before gathering at the National Constitution Center to watch the livestream of the legislative session, students headed to the Carpenters’ Hall for presentations led by Justices Sallie Updyke Mundy and Daniel McCaffery of the Supreme Court; President Judge Anne Lazarus and Judges Victor Stabile, Alice Dubow, Megan Sullivan, Jill Beck, and Brandon Neuman of the Superior Court; and Judges Lori Dumas and Stella Tsai of the Commonwealth Court.  There, students participated in an interactive discussion (and a lively game of trivia) regarding the work of Pennsylvania’s three appellate courts, learned about the judiciary’s role in state government, and engaged directly with judges.

Supreme Court Justice Daniel D. McCaffery

Superior Court President Judge Anne E. Lazarus

Commonwealth Court Judge Lori A. Dumas

Superior Court Judge Brandon Neuman speaks with a group of students

(l to r) Superior Court Judges Jill Beck and Alice Beck Dubow, Supreme Court Justice Sallie Updyke Mundy, Superior Court Judge Victor Stabile, Commonwealth Court Judge Stella Tsai