Students can observe firsthand
FORT KENT, Maine — The Maine Supreme Judicial Court will hold court and hear three cases at the University of Maine Fort Kent on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2016 for students from several area schools, including Fort Kent, Fort Fairfield, Van Buren, Madawaska, Caribou and St. Agatha.
The first case will begin at 9 a.m., followed by two more cases at 9:45 and 10:30.
This event is at the invitation of Rep. John Martin.
Since 2005, the court has held oral arguments in actual appellate cases in 32 schools around the state, hearing more than 90 appeals at the schools.
In each school, the gymnasium or auditorium is turned into a real courtroom for the morning so that the students can observe the appellate process live. Students receive copies of the parties’ legal briefs in advance of the oral arguments, and after the oral arguments the lawyers stay to answer questions from students. When the cases are decided, the schools receive a link to the court’s written decision to provide to the students.
Chief Justice Leigh Saufley said, “Once again, we are excited to have the opportunity to hold appellate arguments at Maine schools. Over the years, the Court has traveled from Biddeford to Fort Kent and from Fryeburg to Eastport, with many stops in between our large and beautiful state. Creating a real courtroom in a high school takes great effort on the part of the faculty and school staff. We appreciate the work that is involved to bring this particular, real life civics lesson to Maine high school students.
“Of course,” he said, “the high point for the Court is the chance to meet and talk with Maine students. We continue to be impressed each year with the quality and level of interest that Maine students bring to these cases. This year we are particularly pleased that students from all over northern Aroostook County will be able to observe the appellate process in one venue at the University of Maine at Fort Kent. We are grateful to UMFK for providing a venue to make this possible.”
The case schedule and legal briefs can be found at:
http://www.courts.maine.gov/maine_courts/supreme/oral_arguments_schedule.shtml. For more information on these visits see:
http://www.courts.maine.gov/maine_courts/supreme/high_schools.html.
