Public Notice Detail

ST. PAUL, MN  (October 18, 1999) – In front of an audience of nearly 1,000 students from three St. Paul high schools, the Minnesota Supreme Court will hear oral arguments of an actual case at Johnson High School in St. Paul, Tuesday, October 19, 1999.  Students from Johnson, Harding High School and Hill-Murray High School in St. Paul will watch the arguments in Johnson’s Warren E. Burger auditorium while the St. Paul Neighborhood Network will broadcast the event citywide.

The visit is part of an educational outreach effort begun by the Supreme Court in 1995 to increase students’ understanding of the judicial system and “demystify” the court process for individuals across the state.   

Teachers have reviewed litigants’ briefs with students prior to the visit.  In addition, volunteer attorneys from the Ramsey County Bar Association’s “Youth and Law Committee” spent last week in classrooms at the schools, teaching students about the judicial system and the legal elements of the case they will be seeing.  Students at the three schools who cannot be in the auditorium will view the live broadcast on St. Paul Public Access Channel 32.  An e-mail and phone line will be set up to allow them to ask questions during the Q & A session that will follow the oral arguments.     

This is the Court’s tenth “traveling oral argument” visit to schools.  Media is welcome to attend any part of the event.

WHO:            Minnesota Supreme Court Justices.  Also in attendance: State Senator Randy Kelly; St. Paul Public Schools Superintendent Patricia Harvey; St. Paul Board of Education Chair Mary Thornton Phillips, and Ramsey County Chief Judge Lawrence Cohen (moderator).

WHAT:            Oral arguments of actual case before Supreme Court, heard by students from Johnson, Harding and Hill Murray High Schools and broadcast live on public access

WHERE:            Johnson High School’s Warren E. Burger Auditorium, 1349 Arcade St., St. Paul.  (Also broadcast live on St. Paul Public Access Channel 32).

WHEN:            October 19, 1999, 9:30 - Noon

9:35 a.m.            Senator Randy Kelly, Superintendent Patricia Harvey, St. Paul Board of Education Chair Mary Thornton Phillips, and Chief Judge Cohen welcome attendees

10 – 11 a.m.            Supreme Court oral arguments

11 – 12 noon            Q & A with Justices and students

12 – 2 p.m.            Justices spend lunch and afternoon with students at all 3 school