Public Notice Detail
Minnesota Supreme Court Convenes at Hastings High School
Posted: Monday, April 8, 2002
High School students from Hastings, Eagan, Henry Sibley, Rosemount, Simley and South St. Paul, as well as students from Cottage Grove Junior High School and Inver Hills Community College packed the Hastings High School Auditorium for the event. Meanwhile, Hastings High School students and Hastings residents watched the proceedings live on cable television. The program was also taped and will be rebroadcast on cable channel 15 in Hastings this weekend and in the coming weeks. (Check local listings for further information.)
The state’s highest court heard oral arguments of an actual case, State of Minnesota vs. Michael Angel Rosillo (File No. C2-00-1610). Following the hearing, 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 Hastings High School auditorium. Justices also ate lunch with student leaders and visited classrooms at Hastings middle and high schools, Christa McAuliffe Elementary School in Hastings, South St. Paul Secondary School and Simley Senior High School in Inver Grove Heights.
Volunteers from the Dakota County Bar Association visited classrooms to review the case with students and help them prepare for today’s oral arguments.
“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, MN 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 Hastings visit marks the 15th in-school oral argument for the Court.