News Item
Supreme Court to hear oral arguments at Edison High School in Minneapolis on May 11

Posted: Thursday, April 16, 2015

On May 11, the Minnesota Supreme Court will travel to Thomas Edison High School in Minneapolis as part of a biannual program that seeks to teach students about the court system and build the public’s trust and confidence in the Judicial Branch. During the visit, the state’s highest court will convene in Edison’s newly-renovated auditorium to hear oral arguments in a real court case in front of hundreds of students and guests from Minneapolis Public Schools.

“Visiting Minnesota high schools and giving students an opportunity to see their justice system up close is one of the most important ways our Court works to build public trust in and understanding of the Judicial Branch,” said Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea. “Those of us on the Supreme Court look forward to these visits every year, and we always leave inspired by the great interest and enthusiasm students have for learning about the legal system.”

The May 11 event will begin at 9 a.m. The Court will convene in the Edison High School Auditorium to hear oral arguments in State of Minnesota vs. True Thao (Case No. A14-1182). Following the oral arguments, the Supreme Court justices will hold a question-and-answer session with students, share lunch with student representatives, and spend the afternoon visiting classrooms.

The media is invited to attend the oral arguments and the question-and-answer session with students. In addition, members of the Court and Minneapolis Public Schools representatives will hold a media availability immediately following the end of the program in the second floor Media Center.

Media interested in covering the event should refer to the attached resource sheet, which provides timing details for the event, a summary of Court Rules governing the use of recording equipment during court proceedings, and other guidelines and related information.

Since the Supreme Court convened oral arguments in Rochester, Minn., in 1995, school visits have taken center stage in the Court’s public outreach and education efforts. The May 11 visit to Edison High School will mark the 41st “traveling oral argument” event for the Court. It will also mark the final such event for Associate Justice Alan Page, who will reach the mandatory retirement age for judges later this year. Justice Page has participated in every “traveling oral argument” event since the program’s inception.

“Minneapolis Public Schools is pleased to host the Minnesota Supreme Court and this edition of the traveling oral argument. This will be a tremendous learning opportunity for our students outside of their daily classroom educational experience,” said MPS interim superintendent Michael Goar. “This is a great showcase for Edison High School and a wonderful opportunity for MPS to show our appreciation for Justice Page, who has been an outstanding role model and benefactor for students of color across our district for several years.”

Oral arguments can be seen live on Comcast Cable Channel 15 in Minneapolis. Comcast Cable Channel 15 is dedicated for the Minneapolis Public Schools Special and features a wide variety of programming, including live school board meetings, MPS announcements and messages, and productions by and for K-12 students. Click here to view a live stream of Channel 15.

Thomas Edison High School is located at 700 22nd Ave. NE in Minneapolis, MN. Visitors are encouraged to park on the streets surrounding the school.

For more information on the Supreme Court and a guide to oral arguments, please visit: http://www.mncourts.gov/?page=550.