The Minnesota Supreme Court heard oral arguments at St. Cloud Tech High School in St. Cloud on Wednesday, Oct.14, as part of its Traveling Oral Arguments program.
Students from St. Cloud Tech High School, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud Technical & Community College, St. Cloud Apollo High School, and St. John’s Preparatory School filled the auditorium to watch the Supreme Court hear arguments in State of Minnesota v. Stephen Kelly Weaver.
"We were just having so much fun, watching almost a movie play out," said St. Johns Preparatory student Sophie Summers. "I watch a lot of shows about lawyers fighting with different cases and all that, and I thought it was really cool how I was almost in a movie."
"I thought it was a really great idea to bring this to high schoolers," said Hannah, a senior political science major at St. Cloud State University. "If we had this when I was in high school, I think I would have become pre-law earlier than when I did."
Following oral arguments, justices answered students’ questions, ate lunch with student leaders, and visited classrooms at St. Cloud Tech High School.
"What I noticed the most about the justices today was how they are so willing to communicate with the youth, and how willing they are to just be a part of the community," remarked Julia Ouimette, a St. Cloud Tech High School student.
The Minnesota Supreme Court first convened oral arguments in Rochester in 1995. Since then, the school visits have been an important part of the Court’s efforts to improve public understanding of the judiciary’s work. The St. Cloud Tech High School visit marks the 55th in-school oral argument for the Court, and is a collaboration between ISD742, St. Cloud State University, and St Cloud Technical & Community College.