American attorney and law professor Toby Heytens made an appearance in social studies teacher Marc Campbell’s AP Government class on Feb. 23 to meet with his class and talk about his experiences that got him to where he is today. Heytens started by asking questions about the supreme court and tried getting an idea of what the students already knew. Then, he followed that up by sharing facts and details about the supreme court.  

Heytens graduated from Superior High School and went on to go to Macalester College. After college, he went to the University of Virginia law school, and after graduating, he clerked for then Chief Judge Edward R. Becker. Heytens also clerked for historic U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.  After a 25 year law career, he was named a judge in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit by President Joe Biden on July 13, 2021. Heytens is the first in his family to go into law. 

Campbell explained to the class that to people who work in law, meeting Heytens is like a high school athlete meeting someone in professional sports.  

Heytens’s own family member, his niece senior Olivia Wolbert, was in the class for his presentation.  

“We are currently learning about interactions among the branches of government. Being able to hear about his job being involved in one of the branches was really interesting,” said Wolbert.  

Wolbert was not used to seeing her uncle in such a formal and professional setting.  

“Everyone in that room saw a federal judge from Virginia, but I saw Toby. They saw the formalness and how firm he can be when he speaks, but I saw my adventurous uncle who I love to spend time with,” Wolbert said. 

After speaking to the classes, Heytens headed back to Virginia. AP Government students are continuing their studies and will be taking their exam later this spring.