Public Notice Detail

ST. PAUL, MN (Sept. 30, 2002) – The state’s highest court will hear oral arguments of an actual case at Thomas Jefferson High School in Bloomington, Minn., on Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2002.  More than 1,000 Bloomington area students will pack the auditorium to hear the case and ask questions of the justices.

The visit is part of a biannual program that seeks to illuminate the court’s work and build the public’s trust and confidence in the Judicial Branch.

Among the Bloomington area schools expected to be in attendance are Jefferson High School, John F. Kennedy High School, Calvary United Pentecostal Academy, Minneapolis Lutheran High School, Normandale Community College, Northwestern Health Sciences University and Trinity High School, as well as Breck School in Golden Valley.  Students elsewhere in the Bloomington Public Schools and community residents can watch the proceedings via live cablecast on BEC-TV Channel 15 or on the web at BECTV.org.

Following oral arguments, the justices will answer students’ questions, eat lunch with student leaders and visit classrooms at schools throughout the area.

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 improve public understanding of the judiciary’s work.  The Bloomington visit marks the 16th in-school oral argument for the Court.

Media is welcome to attend all events.  The October 8 schedule will be as follows:

8:30 a.m.                               Media setup.  The Jefferson High School Auditorium (4001 W. 102nd Street, Bloomington) will be open to members of the electronic media to set up equipment.  Please contact Chuck Tombarge at 651-297-4029 at least 24 hours in advance to make arrangements.  Camera equipment must remain stationary during oral arguments and should be ready for taping by 9:15 a.m.

9:20 a.m.                               Program begins.  Judge Kevin Burke, Chief Judge of the Fourth Judicial District, will introduce the program in the auditorium.

9:30-10:30 a.m.            Oral arguments.  The Supreme Court will hear an actual case (File No. C2-01-1942, State of Minnesota vs. Michael Larivee).

10:30-11:30 a.m.            Question and answer session.  Students will have an opportunity to ask questions of the Supreme Court in the auditorium.

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.            Lunch with Jefferson High School student leaders.

12:30-2:00 p.m.            School visits.  Justices will visit classrooms at Jefferson and Kennedy high schools and other schools in the Bloomington area.