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Minnesota Supreme Court to Hold Oral Arguments, Community Dinner in Alexandria

Posted: Friday, September 1, 2017

Events at Alexandria Area High School to be held October 4-5

The Minnesota Supreme Court will visit Alexandria in 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 judiciary. During their visit, the Supreme Court will hold a community dinner on Wednesday, October 4. On the morning of Thursday, October 5, the state’s highest court will convene at Alexandria Area High School to hear oral arguments in a real court case in front of hundreds of students.
 
“My fellow justices and I are looking forward to our upcoming visit to Alexandria, and having the opportunity to engage with students and community members about our remarkable justice system in Minnesota,” said Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea. “We know that this will be a great opportunity for hundreds of students to see their justice system up close, and we hope many members of the community come out to share a meal and good conversation at our dinner event on October 4.”
 
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 4, all area residents are invited to Alexandria Area High School in Alexandria to meet and share dinner with the members of the Minnesota Supreme Court and local district court judges.
 
Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. The event will include a short program featuring brief remarks from members of the Supreme Court.
 
Tickets for the community-wide event are being sold for $15.00 to cover the cost of dinner, which includes chicken breast, hot vegetable, rice, salad, dinner roll, and dessert.
 
Tickets to the community dinner must be purchased in advance and will not be available at the door. Tickets will be available until Friday, September 22.
 
Tickets to the community dinner can be purchased in three ways:
  • Online through Alexandria Public Schools at www.alexandria.k12.mn.us under the “District News” section at the bottom of the page.  If viewing this information online, you may also access online ticket sales.
  • By phone by calling (320) 763-3161. Tickets can be purchased by phone Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The following credit cards will be accepted: MasterCard and Visa. Invoicing is not available.
  • In person by visiting the Alexandria Lakes Chamber of Commerce office (206 Broadway, Alexandria, MN 56308). Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Chamber will accept cash, checks, and the following credit cards: MasterCard and Visa.
 
Seating for the event is limited. Alexandria Area High School is located at 4300 Pioneer Road SE in Alexandria, MN.
 
Area students to watch oral arguments in a real court case
 
The morning following the community dinner, the Minnesota Supreme Court will convene in the performing arts center of Alexandria Area High School in Alexandria at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 5. School officials expect to fill the 1,000-seat auditorium with students from all four grade levels.
 
The Court will hear oral arguments on an actual court case. 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 week leading up to the Court’s visit, local attorneys will visit classrooms to help students understand the Supreme Court oral argument process, and the case that will be before the Court on October 5.
 
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 Alexandria event marks the 46th in-school oral arguments for the Court.
 
More information about the Court’s visit to Alexandria Area High School, including a detailed schedule and information on the case the court will hear on October 5, will be provided in the weeks ahead.