News Item

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Supreme Court to Hold Oral Arguments, Community Dinner in Duluth

Posted: Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Events will be held October 7 and 8

The Minnesota Supreme Court will visit Duluth this October as part of a program that seeks to teach students about the court system and build the public’s trust and confidence in the Judicial Branch. During their visit, the Court will hold a community dinner on Wednesday, October 7. On the morning of Thursday, October 8, the state’s highest court will convene at Denfeld High School in Duluth to hear oral arguments in a real court case in front of hundreds of high school students from across the region.

“Our justice system is one of the first promises of our state’s Constitution, and it is important for students and citizens to understand the judiciary and the role our courts play in protecting people’s rights and preserving the rule of law,” said Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea. “Visiting communities around the state and giving students an inside look at their court system is one of the most important ways the Supreme Court works to build that understanding. We look forward to our upcoming visit to Duluth, and the opportunity to talk to members of the community and students about their justice system.”
 
More information on the two events, which are both open to the media, is provided below:
 
Public invited to a “Meet Your Court” community dinner
 
On the evening of Wednesday, October 7, all area residents are invited to the Kirby Ballroom at the Kirby Student Center on the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) campus to meet and share dinner with the members of the Minnesota Supreme Court and local district court judges.
 
Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. The event will include a short program featuring brief remarks from members of the Supreme Court.
 
Tickets to the community dinner must be purchased in advance and will not be available at the door. Tickets are being sold for $15 to cover the cost of dinner, which includes salad; pasta bar with meatless spaghetti sauce, Alfredo sauce, and Italian meatballs; green beans and roasted peppers; breadstick; and dessert.
 
Tickets to the community dinner can be purchased in three ways:

• Online at http://z.umn.edu/2015mnsupremecourt.
• By phone by calling (218) 726-8877. Tickets can be purchased by phone Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The following credit cards will be accepted: American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa.
• In-person by visiting the UMD School of Fine Arts Ticket Office (1215 Ordean Court, Duluth, MN 55812). Box office hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The box office will accept cash, checks, and the following credit cards: American Express, Discover, MasterCard and Visa.

 
Seating to the event is limited and tickets must be purchased by Wednesday, September 30.
 
Area students to watch oral arguments in a real court case
 
Following the community dinner, the Minnesota Supreme Court will convene in the auditorium of Denfeld High School in Duluth at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 8. Students from Denfeld High School and other area schools will fill the auditorium to watch the event.
 
The Court will hear oral arguments on an actual court case, Kelly Dennis, Respondent, vs. The Salvation Army and Chesterfield Services, Inc., Relators, and HealthEast Physician Services, et al, Intervenors (A15-0715). 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.
 
In the weeks leading up to the Court’s visit, local attorneys will visit area classrooms to help students understand the Supreme Court oral argument process, and the case that will be before the Court on October 8.
 
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 Duluth event marks the 42nd in-school oral arguments for the Court.
 
For more information on the Supreme Court and a guide to oral arguments, please visit http://www.mncourts.gov/About-The-Courts/SupremeCourt.aspx.
 
For media interested in recording the oral arguments on October 8, note that these are official court proceedings and will be subject to the Court Rules governing audio and video coverage of appellate court proceedings (see Rule 134.10 of the Rules of Civil Appellate Procedure). Requests to use recording devices must be submitted to the Court Information Office at least 24 hours in advance. 

Photo provided by the City of Duluth, taken by Dennis O'Hara.