News Item
MN Supreme Court to Hold Hearing at Wadena Memorial Auditorium

Posted: Monday, October 7, 2013

Justices Will Hear Arguments in Actual Case to Educate Students About Judicial Branch

The Minnesota Supreme Court has announced that it will hear oral arguments in Wadena, MN, on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013.  More than 450 students from Wadena-Deer Creek High School, M State, and schools in New York Mills, Verndale, Bertha-Hewitt, Sebeka, and Staples-Motley will pack Wadena Memorial Auditorium, 250 Dayton Ave. SE., to watch oral arguments.

The visit is part of a biannual program that seeks to teach students about the work of the state’s highest court while building the public’s trust and confidence in the Judicial Branch.

The justices will hear oral arguments of an actual case, State of Minnesota, Respondent vs. Antoine Rumel Little, Appellant – Case No. A11-2319. Following oral arguments, the justices will answer students’ questions in the auditorium and then move to Wadena-Deer Creek High School where they will eat lunch with student leaders. After lunch, they will visit classrooms at the high school and at Wadena-Deer Creek Elementary School.

Members of the public in the Wadena community who wish to view the oral arguments and the question-and-answer session may do so live via the Internet beginning at 8:45 a.m. at http://www.wdc2155.k12.mn.us/live-stream. Seats in the auditorium are reserved for students.

Since the Supreme Court convened oral arguments in Rochester, MN, in 1995, the visits have taken center stage in the Court’s efforts to improve public understanding of the judiciary’s work.  The Wadena visit marks the 38th traveling oral argument for the Court.

“Wadena-Deer Creek High School is honored to host the Minnesota Supreme Court Traveling Oral Arguments,” said Wadena-Deer Creek High School Principal Tyler Church.  “We feel so fortunate to have this opportunity.”