Public Notice Detail

ST. PAUL, MN (April 6, 2004) – Nearly 2,000 St. Paul students watched as the Minnesota Supreme Court convened at Harding High School today in an effort to open the doors of the Judicial Branch to the public.

The state’s highest court heard oral arguments of an actual case, Thomas Paul Clark vs. Dwight R.J. Lindquist (File No. A03-1951).  The Court generally issues its opinions four to six months following oral arguments.  Opinions are available at .

“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.”

Nearly 1,000 students attended today’s program in the high school auditorium while the school’s remaining students watched via live television. 

Attorneys from the Ramsey County Bar Association and the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers volunteered to visit classrooms prior to today’s program to review the case with students and help them prepare for the Supreme Court visit. 

Following today’s arguments, the Justices answered students’ questions on a wide variety of topics.  Justices and Ramsey County District Court Judges also ate lunch with Harding students before the Justices visited Harding classrooms.  St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly, State Representatives Tim Mahoney and Sheldon Johnson, State Senator Mee Moua and Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner attended the morning program and briefly spoke to students about their roles in government.

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 Harding event marks the 19th oral argument for students and the first visit to a St. Paul school since the Court visited Johnson High School in 1999.

The St. Paul Neighborhood Network televised the program live at Harding and will rebroadcast it for the general public in the coming weeks on Channel 19 in St. Paul.  Check www.spnn.org for program schedules. 

About the Minnesota Judiciary

The Minnesota Judicial Branch is made up of 10 judicial districts with 274 district court judgeships, 16 Court of Appeals judges and seven Supreme Court justices.   The Supreme Court oversees the administration of justice in the state, and Kathleen A. Blatz serves as the Chief Justice.  The Judicial Branch is mandated by the Minnesota Constitution to resolve disputes promptly and without delay, and it handles approximately 2 million cases a year.  For more information about the court system, visit www.courts.state.mn.us.