Public Notice Detail
State Supreme Court to Convene in St. Cloud High School
Posted: Friday, October 6, 2000
Students from 11 schools will gather as the state’s highest court hears oral arguments of an actual case, Terrance Lee Genin v. 1996 Mercury Marquis (No. C7-99-1577). The event will begin at 9:30 a.m., Oct. 11 in the auditorium of Apollo High School in St. Cloud. A question-and-answer session from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. will follow, during which time students may ask questions of the Supreme Court Justices.
The proceedings will be interpreted into sign language for deaf and hard-of-hearing students who will attend from as far away as Brainerd. Apollo High School is one of the few deaf and hard-of-hearing public school programs in the state.
Volunteer attorneys from St. Cloud area bar associations will visit participating schools prior to Oct. 11 to review the case with students and answer students’ questions about what to expect during the oral arguments.
Schools that will participate include Apollo High School, Annandale Middle School, Becker High School, Cathedral High School, Holdingford Secondary School, Melrose High School, Paynesville Senior High School, Sartell High School, Sauk Rapids-Rice Senior High School, St. John’s Preparatory School and Technical High School.
On the afternoon of Oct. 11, members of the Supreme Court will visit elementary school, high school and college classrooms in person to teach students more about the court system.
Residents of St. Cloud and the surrounding areas are invited to a “Meet Your Court” community dinner on the evening prior to the oral arguments (October 10). The bar associations of Stearns and Benton Counties, as well as the Whitney Senior Center in St. Cloud, will sponsor the informal family-oriented dinner. Justices of the Supreme Court, judges from the Seventh Judicial District and local officials will attend the 6:30 p.m. event at the Whitney Center.
“This visit will be a wonderful opportunity for us to meet the people we serve in Central Minnesota,” said Supreme Court Chief Justice Kathleen A. Blatz. “It’s important for us to exchange ideas about the issues we all face as Minnesotans.”
Since the Supreme Court convened oral arguments in Rochester, MN in 1995, Greater Minnesota visits have taken center stage in the Court’s efforts to demystify court processes. The St. Cloud event will mark the 12th in-school court session for the Court.
The Supreme Court’s schedule in St. Cloud is as follows:
October 10
6:30 p.m. “Meet Your Court” community dinner: Whitney Senior Center, 1527 Northway Drive, St. Cloud. Includes the Minnesota Supreme Court, Seventh Judicial District judges, local officials and the public. Tickets for this family-style, informal dinner are $9 and are available by calling 320-656-3678.
October 11
8:00 a.m. Supreme Court breakfast: Radisson Hotel, downtown St. Cloud. Members of the Supreme Court will gather for breakfast in the hotel restaurant. Members of the media are welcome to join them. For more information, please call Chuck at 651-297-4029.
9:00 a.m. Press conference for high school, college and professional media: Apollo High School, Choir Room, near door No. 5.
9:15 a.m. Audience must be seated for oral arguments: Apollo High School auditorium. Video cameras can be set up in a designated area and must remain locked in place throughout the oral arguments. Flash photography is prohibited during oral arguments.
9:20 a.m. Judge Vicki Landwehr, Chief Judge of the Seventh Judicial District, introduces oral arguments.
9:30 a.m. Oral arguments begin.
10:30 a.m. Question and answer session: Apollo High School Auditorium. Students can ask questions of the Supreme Court. Cameras and reporters can move about the auditorium during this session.
11:30 a.m. Members of the Supreme Court will eat lunch with Apollo High School students in their school cafeteria.
12:30 p.m. Supreme Court Justices speak to elementary, high school and college students in classroom visits. Contact Chuck Tombarge at 651-297-4029 for more information.
Media is welcome to attend all events.