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On the 226th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution, 50 local school children gathered in the Scott M. Matheson Courthouse to pay tribute to the document and the society it created.

The seventh annual Constitution Day celebration at the courthouse brought together students from grades 5 through 12 with judges and legal professionals Tuesday afternoon to learn how courts operate and play into the goal of the Constitution — maintaining law, order and a government beholden to built-in checks and balances.

A color guard from West High School presented the flag and a student from Park City High School led the group in the pledge of allegiance.

Judges Robin Reese and Lynn Davis, from the 3rd and 4th District courts, respectively, gave speeches along with the president of the Utah State Bar, Curtis Jensen.

The students were then led into courtrooms, where several judges led lesson plans and answered questions.

Utah courts spokeswoman Nancy Volmer, who founded the state courts' Constitution Day celebration in 2006, said the courts make an effort to emphasize the importance of the country's constitution annually because of its cultural significance and lasting power — the constitution is the oldest written national constitution in continuous use worldwide.

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