Federal Judicial Learning Center and Museum promotes civics education in OKC; Machine Gun Kelly exhibit soon to open

If you’ve been in downtown OKC recently, you may have noticed the new banners hanging outside the Federal Court House. These red and blue markers welcome visitors to check out the Judicial Learning Center and Museum, located just inside the doors.

The Learning Center and Museum has been around for just over 6 years and began as a legacy project led by Judge Vicki Miles-LaGrange, who served as chief judge from 2008-2015. Miles-LaGrange was the first African-American woman elected to the Oklahoma State Senate and to be sworn in as United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma. The space offers a place for individuals to engage in civics education for free. According to the learning center’s executive director Leigh Dudley, "The Federal Judicial Learning Center & Museum offers an interactive experience that promotes an understanding of the federal court system and how 'The Rule of Law Keeps Us Free.'”

Upon entering the building, visitors must pass through security and leave their phones in lockers near the door. The first floor is lined from end to end with informational boards which explain the federal court structure, jury service, branches of our government, separation of powers, the legal profession, and more. Several interactive digital kiosks provide details on judges, important Oklahoma-based cases, and the different agencies associated with the federal court system.

Some of the notable cases one can learn about through a learning center visit include the Oklahoma County Commissioners Scandal (1981-84), the Penn Square Bank Cases (1982), United States v. Timothy James McVeigh (1996), United States v. David Hall and W.W. Taylor (1976), Dowell v. School Board of Oklahoma City Public Schools (1963), and United States v. George “Machine Gun” Kelly (1933).

Students and school groups are welcomed to visit the space, which has been especially beneficial for those learning about our nation’s federal court system. With a focus on grades 4-12, educators can organize field trips for their students to visit the courthouse, engage with the museum, and participate in a mock trial. According to Executive Director Dudley, "One of my favorite aspects of the Federal Judicial Learning Center & Museum is connecting students and the community to civics education. Today, more than ever, we need informed and active citizens in our communities and a more complete understanding of the history and relevance of our federal court system."

When planning a trip to the center, educators can request preparatory curriculum resources for their students to make the most of their visit. Mock trials can be adjusted based on student readiness, with Goldilocks and Humpty Dumpty cases being popular entry-level cases for younger groups.

This summer, a new exhibit will open in the learning center to highlight the Machine Gun Kelly case from 1933. The exhibit is not to be confused with the singer, songwriter, rapper, and actor Colson Baker, who claimed “Machine Gun Kelly” as his professional stage name. As one of the most famous cases in Oklahoma’s history, the exhibit will feature some of the critical details of the crime and trial, exposing visitors to unique pieces of the story.

A brief description of the case, which currently exists in the learning center, reads, “Late in the evening of July 22, 1933, George Kelly, carrying his trademark machine gun, kidnapped Charles Urschel, a wealthy oil man, during a game of cards on the screen porch of his Oklahoma City mansion.” He collected a $200,000 ransom from the kidnapping. The Machine Gun Kelly trial was both the first criminal trial in the United States to be captured on film and the first kidnapping trial to take place following the Lindbergh Law, which made kidnapping a federal crime.

In the upcoming Machine Gun Kelly exhibit, designed by OKC local Cameron Eagle with Ink Ranch, Inc., there will be a replica of Kelly’s Tommy gun, a 1930s film about the case which has been restored from the archives, and special pieces of history collected from family members of Charles Urschel who donated scrapbooks and other items of memorabilia. The exhibit will likely be open for a year, with hope of generating enough support and success to justify a consistent rotating exhibition for the future of the learning center and museum.

The museum’s hours are Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm and admission is free to the public. Large groups are advised to call in advance to plan their visit. To schedule a field trip or guided tour contact (405) 420-6176 or email [email protected].