Judge Edward Washington II (seated in center) and members of the Simeon Career Academy boy’s basketball team pose behind the bench during a day spent learning about civil law and practicing advocacy skills Thursday at the Daley Center. — Lauraann Wood
They’re members of a basketball institution that has given the NBA such players like the Bulls’ Derrick Rose and the Milwaukee Bucks’ Jabari Parker.
Basketball is their passion, their primary career goal. But members of the Simeon Career Academy boy’s basketball team visited Cook County Circuit Judge Edward Washington II’s courtroom Thursday to think about something else — how civil law impacts any career path they choose once the ball stops bouncing.
“Many of you will have opportunities in business or otherwise, and the courts will protect or create those opportunities,” Washington told the team, currently ranked the preseason No. 2 by the Chicago Sun-Times. “That’s the civil court.”
The visit was an exercise into analytical thinking as the players took turns arguing pros and cons of changes to the rules of basketball before small forward-turned-judge Ben Coupet.
Among the proposals: Requiring coaches to run one mile for every 10 they require of players, or allowing players with below-average vertical leaps to wear league-provided spring shoes to add two inches to their jump.
The players’ interest and engagement expanded as the exercise progressed — as one player being chosen to argue for or against a rule quickly grew into two or three players volunteering to argue a side. By the end, players were sharing their opinions without being chosen to stand in front of their peers designated as jurors.
For Washington, that enthusiasm spoke volumes to his assessment of the players’ potential.
“I think it shows that if you give a person an opportunity and show them some concepts and let them put it together on their own, their native ability will come out,” he said.
“This shows me that when they get into something, they’re dedicated to it, whether it be the sport or whether it be an exercise like this. It’s just giving them an opportunity and showing them something they can dedicate themselves to, and you’ll see excellent results.”
For some players, it was their first exposure to civil court. For others, it was a look into something other than traffic court.
But for all of them, 12-year head coach Robert Smith said, it was a chance to “see something different.”
“It was great,” Smith said. “They’re kind of quiet kids, but once they get engaged, everybody is pretty much focused on what’s going on. And they’re pretty bright and sharp young men as well, so it was good for them to get involved. It’s something they’ll be talking about all day or the next week or two.”
Smith said he primarily hoped the team would learn there’s more to life and work than basketball. That sentiment was not lost on Evan Gilyard, a junior.
“Always have a secondary option, and always think about your education first,” he said.
However, Gilyard said it’s more than simply having a backup plan to a career in professional sports.
“I didn’t know law deals with so much stuff,” he said. “Law is actually fun because you get to actually debate about things that are very important and your opinion and really express how you feel about certain situations.”
Smith said while he hasn’t heard his players talk much about pursuing a law career, he’s sure such conversations will arise.
“A lot of them talk about being sports agents, and they don’t know that has to do with law too,” he said.
Washington, who has conducted similar exercises with other school groups, said being a judge gives him a platform to inspire and motivate young people.
“It’s a thought — we don’t know how far a thought can go,” he said. “I may never really know the results of what I’ve done, but when you review your life you look at people here and there who told you something and gave you a thought that was a spark. I hope I’ve given some sparks.”