Justice in the classroom.

With his black robe casually slung over his arm, Florida Supreme Court Justice R. Fred Lewis strolled into Tallahassee's Gilchrist Elementary School.

An employee in the front office checked in the prestigious visitor and joked: "Oh, put your judge's robe on. That will intimidate the kids and keep them in line."

Justice Lewis did don his black robe before stepping inside Ginny Webb's fifth-grade class -- but for the totally opposite reason.

"Did you ever wonder what fat old judges wear under these black things?" he asked, as the room full of 10- and 11-year-olds giggled.

With dramatic unzipping, the justice announced with a smile: "See, we wear a regular suit and shirt like anyone else. Because you know what? I learned a long time ago it's what's in here," he said pointing to his head, "and what's in here," pointing to his heart, "that's much more important than what you wear."

To the amazement of their regular teacher, Justice Lewis captivated his young audience for two full hours without a break. Voice animated, arms wildly gesturing, eyes dancing, he took the students on a rollicking ride through the history of the Bill of Rights, illustrating why we need them all to be free.

"I love the kids. I get a joy out of doing it," Justice Lewis said after teaching the class with help from Annette Pitts, executive director of the Florida Law Related Education Association, Inc. The twosome travels all over the state, as much as seven times a month, visiting classrooms, putting a human face on the Supreme Court, while making the law relevant to students of all ages.

"I met my first judge when I was in law school. I didn't meet a judge when I was little. I had no idea. I was intimidated by judges and lawyers," Justice Lewis said. "I think it's important that everyone in society sees that beneath the robe we're all the same. It's just a piece of cloth. There is something about the dignity of the court that you have to continue. But the most important message is it's not what you wear, it's who's under the robe. I like to share with them that beneath all this, we're all in this together."

Together -- the jovial justice asking questions and the children eager to answer -- they had fun learning about the importance of our constitutional rights. By example, he taught the children they can be whoever they want to be.

"I grew up in a place called West Virginia. It's a place up in the mountains. When I was your age, I was in a little school in a coal-mining...