Public Notice Detail
Minnesota Supreme Court Convenes at Bloomington Jefferson High School
Posted: Tuesday, October 8, 2002
The state’s highest court heard oral arguments of an actual case, State of Minnesota vs. Michael Larivee (File No. C2-01-1942). The Court generally issues its opinions on cases three to five months following oral arguments. All Supreme Court opinions are available upon release at www.courts.state.mn.us.
“The issues we face as Minnesotans affect young people as much as adults,” said Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen A. Blatz. “This visit has been a wonderful opportunity for us to introduce the Court to students and exchange ideas for the future with the next generation of leaders.”
Since the Supreme Court convened oral arguments in Rochester, Minn., in 1995, the school visits have taken center stage in the Court’s efforts to build the public’s trust and confidence in the judiciary. The Bloomington visit marks the 16th in-school oral argument for the Court.
The program included Bloomington students from Jefferson High School, John F. Kennedy High School, Calvary United Pentecostal Academy, Minneapolis Lutheran High School, Normandale Community College, Northwestern Health Sciences University and Trinity High School, as well as Breck School in Golden Valley, Minn. Meanwhile, students elsewhere in the Bloomington Public Schools and community residents watched the proceedings via live cablecast on BEC-TV Channel 15 and on the web at BECTV.org. The program was also taped and will be rebroadcast on BEC-TV in the coming weeks. (Check local listings for further information.)
Volunteers from the Hennepin County Bar Association visited classrooms to review the case with students and help them prepare for today’s oral arguments. Jefferson teachers prepared the entire student body for the judicial civics lesson with school-wide video presentations. Student Council leaders explained the formal etiquette of a court hearing.
Following today’s arguments, the Justices answered students’ questions on a wide variety of topics. Students watching via television participated in the question and answer session by phoning in their questions to the Jefferson High School auditorium. Justices also ate lunch with student leaders and visited with students at Jefferson, Kennedy, Oak Grove Middle School, Olson Middle School and Valley View Elementary School in the afternoon.
“The court’s hearing today at Jefferson High School provided our students a unique view of our court system at work,” said Bloomington Superintendent Gary Prest. “Our teachers and volunteer attorneys provided students with excellent preparation for this experience,” he said.
Prest also extended the School District’s appreciation to the Supreme Court for its visit to Bloomington. “This real-life lesson about the court’s procedures and the opportunity to speak with the Justices will stick with our students as they become our state’s future leaders.