News Item
Minnesota Supreme Court Convenes at Wadena Memorial Auditorium

Posted: Wednesday, October 9, 2013

More than 450 students from the area participate

The Minnesota Supreme Court convened at Wadena Memorial Auditorium in Wadena, Minn., today in an effort to open the doors of the Judicial Branch to the public.

The state’s highest court heard oral arguments of an actual case, State of Minnesota, Respondent vs. Antoine Rumel Little, Appellant – Case No. A11-2319. The Court generally issues its opinions on cases three to five months following oral arguments.  All Supreme Court opinions are available upon release at www.mncourts.gov.

“Reaching out to the people we serve is one of the Court’s highest priorities,” said Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Lorie S. Gildea. “Visiting high schools is especially important because we can engage young people at a time when they are learning their role in our democracy and what it means to live in a society governed by laws.”

Since the Supreme Court convened oral arguments in Rochester, Minn., in 1995, the school visits have taken center stage in the Court’s efforts to build the public’s trust and confidence in the judiciary.  This Wadena event marks the 38th in-school oral arguments for the Court.

Today’s program included 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.

Local attorneys Paul Carlson, Dan Carlisle, Sue Ann Lind, Don Niles, Matthew Van Bruggen, and Malcolm Whynott volunteered to review the case with students and help them prepare for today’s oral arguments.  Volunteer attorney Daniel G. Prokott created the case summary for the students.

Following today’s arguments, the justices answered students’ questions on a wide variety of topics.  Justices also ate lunch with high school students and visited the classes of Wadena high school, middle school, and elementary school students.