Specifications include, but are not limited to: The purpose of the Center envisioned by the Texas appellate courts, OCA, and Supreme Court Historical Society is to create a broader understanding of the Texas Judicial Branch. The Center will welcome visitors and meeting attendees, and consist of informative exhibits designed to educate the public on the role of the judiciary in Texas government, both past and present. The Center will also serve as an educational destination on the typical Capitol complex tour, teaching visitors Texas’ legal history and the importance of an independent judiciary. The Center will provide both a historical context and an interactive learning experience that will help visitors deepen their understanding of the judiciary and the role of the judicial branch in a free government and encourage greater overall civic participation. The exhibits will teach the unique history of the Texas judiciary in comparison to United States history, diversity in Texas and the role of women and minorities in shaping its judicial system. Exhibits may also include oral histories from prominent judges, interactive civics education describing how cases are decided based on relevant law, how a case moves through the state appellate process, and how judges are elected in the state. There may also be room for play, from a “dress up” area with judges’ robes to a portal for civics educational games through Sandra Day O’Connor’s website iCivics. The Center will be located in the entry-level corridor of the Tom C. Clark Building, which joins the Texas Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeals with the Third Court of Appeals and the Price Daniel Building. The space allotted for the proposed Center is approximately 2,200 square feet. Please see photographs of the current space attached to this document as Appendix A. A floor plan which includes the intended space is included as Appendix B. A project evaluation committee composed of members of the Supreme Court, the Court of Criminal Appeals, and the Supreme Court Historical Society has viewed existing judicial education centers and met with designers to develop the themes and teaching goals for the currently unused space. The anticipated design plan should include written descriptions of proposed historical and civics exhibits, technical details regarding installation and concept drawings appropriate for the space. After the plan is completed, the designer will produce materials that provide a visual conceptualization of the proposed Center. OCA will use the design to communicate the vision of the Center and demonstrate its value to prospective private donors and the state legislature.
