02.23.2011 | EASTHAMPTON - Williston Northampton school students Abbie S. (left) and Olivia H. Foster started the site TeenJury.com to educate young people on the workings of the Supreme Court. They were inspired after an impromptu meeting with Justice Stephen Breyer when he spoke in Springfield.LONGMEADOW – Olivia and Abbie Foster's Supreme Court Web site is full of decision analysis, previews of upcoming cases and insight into the workings of the highest judiciary body in the land.
It might be surprising, then, to learn that the sisters from Longmeadow haven’t even had their Sweet Sixteens.
TeenJury.com was created last year by Olivia Foster, 14, and Abbie Foster, 12, students at Williston Northampton School in Easthampton.
The site was inspired by a forum last September in Springfield at which Justice Stephen Breyer spoke. Olivia, the site's content editor, got a signed copy of his book, "Making Our Democracy Work: A Judge's View."
The inscription reads, “To Olivia, hope to see you in November.”
And, indeed, Olivia and her father, Brad Foster, went to the Court Nov. 2 as Breyer's personal guests and listened to oral arguments in two cases. (Schwarzenegger v. Entertainment Merchants Association and Sossamon v. Texas)
“Teenagers, we know, aren’t as involved as they can be,” she said. “It’s good to get into it because it affects how we live.”
"I tend to look at everything, but some things may not be interesting to teenagers," she said. But teens need to know about certain laws, like those surrounding music downloads, even if they don't care, she said.
The site isn’t all about the Supreme Court; it touches on many aspects of the law, but the SCOTUS is the crux.
“We pick out the ideas that mean the most to us,” said Abbie, the web designer.
But Supreme Court decisions are written in dense legalese, with footnotes pointing to obscure regulations and sometimes international law. How do the sisters wade through it?
For that, they scour other sites. They also have two advisers: their father and a family friend studying law. Although the adults are helpful, the girls say they do their own writing.
“I sometimes throw them some ideas,” said Brad Foster, an ophthalmologist with a practice in Springfield. “They may ask me what color I think is best,” but the site is “largely their operation.”
“It’s a little challenging,” said Olivia, who said she tries to write with her audience in mind.
“Although there are still things that I may understand more, I’ll sometimes go to (Abbie) because she’s younger than I am and I can see what it would be like, from her view, reading the article.”
“I like to relate it to the average person,” she said. “I put a lot of heart into each of the articles.”
“It’s easy to read and it’s interesting,” said Abbie. “It’s at a teenager’s standards.”
Abbie said TeenJury.com was put together in about a month, with help from adults, and she spends some time every week experimenting with new designs.
“Even though we don’t have a lot of time, we make time, usually before I go to bed or after homework,” said Abbie. She said maintaining the site is fun and the pair will keep it going for as long as possible.
Olivia said she wasn’t sure about her career path, but “I really like politics and everything having to do with law.” Abbie said she would probably go to college for graphic design.
The sisters said the site has had thousands of visitors from 59 countries. They said some short-term goals are to beef up their comments sections and receive more submissions from outside the family.
“I think it’s been a good little project for them,” said Brad Foster. “Hopefully it’ll grow into something more.”