News Item
Minnesota Supreme Court to convene at Anoka High School on April 11
Posted: Thursday, March 22, 2018
The Minnesota Supreme Court will convene at Anoka High School on Wednesday, April 11, as part of a biannual program aimed at engaging students about the importance of the justice system and the work of Minnesota’s highest court.
Approximately 850 students are expected to fill the theater at Anoka High School to watch the Supreme Court hear oral arguments in
State of Minnesota v. Cortney John Edstrom (Case No. A16-1382). The event will begin at 8:45 a.m. with a brief introduction from Anoka County District Court Judge Tammi Fredrickson. Oral arguments, which last one hour, will begin at 9:05 a.m.
Following oral arguments, the Supreme Court justices will hold a question-and-answer session with students in the school theater. The justices will then hold a brief media availability, before sharing lunch with student representatives and spending the afternoon visiting classrooms.
In the weeks leading up to the Supreme Court’s visits, volunteer attorneys from the area will visit classrooms to prepare students for the Supreme Court oral argument process, and the facts behind the case that will be heard on April 11.
“My colleagues and I are looking forward to showcasing the work of our court to the students at Anoka High School,” said Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea. “Every time we visit a high school, we are impressed by the incredible interest of students, their attentiveness during the official court proceedings, and the great questions they have about how their court system works. There is no better way to learn about the importance of our courts than to see them in action.”
Since the Supreme Court convened oral arguments in Rochester, MN, in 1995, the school visits have been an important part of the Court’s efforts to improve public understanding of the judiciary’s work. The Anoka High School visit marks the 47
th in-school oral argument for the Court.
“Anoka High School and the Anoka Family are extremely excited to welcome this amazing educational opportunity to our school. We know that this will be an exceptional time for our students to learn, understand and discuss how the court system works,” said Anoka High School Principal Mike Farley. “I am grateful that our staff, students, and community will have the chance to interact with the judges and observe the scales of justice in practice.”
Quad Cities Community Television (QCTV) will livestream the oral arguments and the question-and-answer session at
www.qctv.org.