ZELIENOPLE — A visit by a state Supreme Court Justice to the Seneca Valley School District on Tuesday revealed the intricate workings of the curious third grade mind.

Justice Deborah Todd, who lives in Cranberry Township, presided over seven classes of third graders at Connoquenessing Valley Elementary School on Tuesday to explain the state judicial system and what a Supreme Court justice does.

But Todd's friendly and accessible manner resulted in a fascinating question-and-answer period following her talk, for which she donned her robe and purple velvet collar.

Questions included:

• "Are you related to Abraham Lincoln's wife?" (No)

• "Who invented the three branches of government?" (James Madison and the other Founding Fathers)

• "What's the most common reason for people to go to jail?" (Drugs)

• "What do you do when you get to work?" (A lot of reading and writing)

• "Do you have one of those ig hammer thingies?" (Yes, you get a gavel.)

In her presentation, Todd explained to the students that Pennsylvania has 546 magisterial courts presided over by district judges, 470 county court judges, 20 Superior Court judges; 14 Commonwealth Court judges, and only seven Supreme Court justices.

Todd briefly explained the functions of those courts to the students, and explained the academic requirements and testing required to become a lawyer.

"I love to talk to children," Todd said as she arrived in the school office. "It's very important that children recognize that judges are accessible and really just people like their parents."

Todd, whose own daughter is a Seneca Valley senior, said she visits schools frequently to give a positive impression of the justice system. She also has coached the mock trial team at the intermediate high school for six years.

CVE Principal DeeAnn Graham said Todd's presentation enhances the third-grade social studies curriculum in addition to giving students a better understanding of the state judicial system.

"It is so thoughtful of her to do this for our students with such a busy schedule," Graham said. "But these children are our future, and a face-to-face interaction is invaluable."

Todd's visit is the result of a suggestion by student Zane Salsbury, who attends the same church as Todd. Zane suggested to his mother that Todd visit the school, and his mother asked Todd if she would be interested in making a presentation at CVE.

Teacher Drew Kysel, who coordinated Todd's visit, was thrilled at the idea.

"I always say to the kids, 'If you know someone who can contribute, have them come in,'" Kysel said. "And this is great because how the government works is a mystery to most people."

Todd praised the teachers on the knowledge level of the students, then revealed she graduated from the Ellwood City School District with CVE third grade teacher Carol Garbett.

"We went to school together and we twirled batons, but we won't do that today," said Todd as she smiled at Garbett.

"Had I known you could still twirl, I would have brought them," quipped Garbett.

Todd stressed to the students that the future is theirs as long as they do their best.

"If you work hard and listen to your teachers and do a good job every day at school, you can be whatever you want to be," she said.

Student Caleb Cekella said he learned about the three branches of state government from Todd's presentation, and he found it interesting that only the seven Supreme Court justices get to wear the regal purple collar.

"And it's a cool job," Caleb said. "You get to go around the state and listen to what people did."