News Item

MN Supreme Court Convening at Buffalo High School

Posted: Monday, May 04, 2009

The Minnesota Supreme Court will convene at Buffalo High School, 877 Bison Blvd., Buffalo, MN, at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, May 6, 2009. Oral arguments will be followed by a question-and-answer session, lunch with students and Buffalo Rotarians and classroom visits.

The Court will hear oral arguments of a real case - State of Minnesota, Respondent vs. Meng Vang, Appellant (Case No. A08-588), which originated in Anoka County District Court. The Court partnered with the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) Civic Education Committee to arrange volunteer attorneys to visit classrooms at Buffalo High School in order to help prepare students and staff for the visit.

More than 800 Buffalo Area students will watch the oral arguments and participate in the question-and-answer session in the auditorium. The program will also be taped by QCTV (Quad Cities Television) to be used in future classes.

Media are welcome to attend all events. Please refer to the schedule below. Also attached is the "Cameras in the Courtroom" policy, which will be followed during oral arguments.

The Supreme Court began convening oral arguments in front of high school students twice a year in 1995 as part of its efforts to promote better understanding of the role of the courts. The Buffalo High School visit marks the 29^th in-school oral argument for the Court.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

8:45 a.m. Media cameras must be set up. Please call Lissa Finne, Communications Specialist, at (651) 297-5532 or cell (612) 201-7637 24 hours in advance to reserve a place. Reserved seating will be available for media.

9:15 a.m. Welcome. (Buffalo High School Performing Arts Center, 877 Bison Blvd., Buffalo). Principal Mark Mischke welcomes students and introduces Tenth Judicial District Judge Stephen Halsey. Judge Halsey will give an orientation to the Minnesota court system and explain how the case came before the Supreme Court.

9:30 a.m. Supreme Court Oral Arguments (Buffalo High School Performing Arts Center). The Supreme Court hears oral arguments of a real case State of Minnesota, Respondent vs. Meng Vang, Appellant (Case No. A08-588).

10:35 a.m. Question-and-Answer Period. Following the recognition, Supreme Court Justices answer students' questions.

11:45 a.m. Student Media Availability. Members of the Buffalo High School newspaper, the Hoofprint, will interview the court about the visit to the school.

12:00 p.m. Lunch with Supreme Court Justices (Bison Room). Minnesota Supreme Court Justices, Tenth Judicial District Judges, Buffalo Rotary Club members and other special guests will join Buffalo High School students for lunch.

1:00 p.m. Classroom Visits. Supreme Court Justices will visit classrooms at Buffalo High School, Buffalo Community Middle School, Parkside Elementary and Tatanka Elementary to speak to students about law-related careers and legal topics that affect young people.

CAMERAS IN THE COURTROOM POLICY:
The following rules are established for audio and video coverage of the Minnesota Supreme Court at Saint Paul Buffalo High School:

Notice of intent to cover court proceedings by either audio or video means shall be given by the media to the Court Information Office 24 hours prior to the time of the intended coverage by calling (651) 297-5532 or (612) 201-7637.
Camerapersons, technicians and photographers covering a proceeding shall avoid activity which might distract participants or impair the dignity of the proceedings; shall remain within the restricted areas designated by the Court; shall observe the customs of the Court; shall conduct themselves in keeping with Court decorum; and shall not dress in a manner which sets them apart unduly from the participants in the proceedings.
Exact locations for all camera and video equipment in the auditorium shall be determined by the Court Information Office. All equipment shall be in place and tested 45 minutes in advance of the time the Court is called to order, and shall be unobtrusive. All wiring shall be safely and securely taped to the floor along the walls. Only existing auditorium lighting shall be used.
Cameras are free to move around the auditorium during the question-and-answer portion of the program.

About the Minnesota Judiciary

The Minnesota Judicial Branch is made up of 10 judicial districts with 289 district court judgeships, 19 Court of Appeals judges, and seven Supreme Court justices. The Minnesota Judicial Branch is governed by the Judicial Council, which is chaired by Eric J. Magnuson, Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. The Minnesota Judicial Branch is mandated by the Minnesota Constitution to resolve disputes promptly and without delay, and handles approximately 2 million cases per year. The Minnesota Supreme Court hears appeals from the Court of Appeals, Workers' Compensation Court of Appeals and Tax Court; reviews first-degree murder convictions, and legislative election disputes.