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High School Sessions
Each year since 2005, the seven Justices of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court have held oral arguments in appeals of real cases in high schools around the state. The arguments are arranged at the invitation of local legislators, members of the Maine House of Representatives and the Maine Senate.
Over the years, the Court has traveled from Fort Kent to Biddeford and from Fryeburg to Eastport, visiting schools there and in many cities, towns, and villages in between, throughout our large and beautiful state. As of 2022, the Supreme Judicial Court has visited at least 44 Maine high schools and heard over 125 appeals in those schools.
In each school, the gymnasium, cafeteria, or auditorium is turned into a "courtroom" where the students can observe the appellate process. Students receive copies of the parties' legal briefs in advance of the arguments, so that they can follow the rapid questions and answers that constitute an oral argument. After the arguments the lawyers stay in the courtroom to answer questions from the students about what they just saw and heard. When the cases are decided, the schools receive a link to the Court's opinion to provide to the students.
Creating a real courtroom in a high school is a challenge, and the justices appreciate all of the work undertaken by the faculty and staff at each school to bring this particular, real life civics lesson to Maine high school students. The justices also appreciate having the opportunity to meet and talk with Maine students and their teachers after the arguments. They cannot, of course, talk about the specific cases, but the justices are always impressed with the quality and level of interest that Maine students from across the state bring to these hearings.
For more information on the high school visits, contact Julia Finn at julia.finn@courts.maine.gov.
| YEAR | SCHOOL | LEGISLATIVE INVITATION FROM |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Caribou HS | Rep. John Martin |
| 2006 | South Portland HS Lewiston HS |
Rep. Jane Eberle Sen. Peggy Rotundo |
| 2007 | Hampden Academy Thornton Academy Falmouth HS |
Sen. Plowman and Rep. Tardy Sen. Hobbins and Rep. Linda Valentino Sen. Turner and Rep. Brautigan |
| 2008 | Sanford HS Cony HS (Augusta) Winthrop HS Bangor HS Shead HS (Eastport) |
Sen. Nass, Rep. Nass, and Rep. Boland Sen. Libby Mitchell Rep. Patrick Flood Rep. Perry Sen. Kevin Raye |
| 2009 | Fryeburg Academy Ft. Kent (4HS) Georges Valley (Thomaston) |
Sen. Dave Hastings Rep. John Martin Rep. Chuck Kruger |
| 2010 | Edward Little HS (Auburn) Windham HS Waterville HS |
Sen. Deb Simpson and Rep. Mike Beaulieu Sen. Bill Diamond and Rep. Mark Bryant Rep. Pam Trinward |
| 2011 | Deering HS (Portland) Richmond HS Lisbon HS |
Sen. Justin Alfond Sen. Seth Goodall and Rep. Seth Berry Sen. Garrett Mason |
| 2012 | Brunswick HS Biddeford HS Bucksport HS |
Rep. Priest and Sen. Gerzofsky Rep. Rochello and Rep. Casavant Sen. Richard Rosen and Rep. Kim Rosen |
| 2013 | Orono HS Nokomis (Newport) Cape Elizabeth HS |
Sen. Cain, Rep. Frey, and Rep. Guerin Rep. Fredette Sen. Millett and Rep. Monaghan-Derrig |
| 2014 | Lincoln-Mattanwacook Academy Presque Isle HS Yarmouth HS |
Sen. Emily Cain Rep. Alex Willette Sen. Dick Woodbury |
| 2015 | Mt. Blue HS (Farmington) Hermon HS Scarborough HS |
Sen. Tom Saviello Sen. Geoff Gratwick Sen. Amy Volk |
| 2016 | Washington Academy (East Machias) Fort Kent (4 schools) Marshwood HS (South Berwick) |
Sen. David Burns Rep. John Martin Rep. Roberta Beavers |
| 2017 | Freeport HS Mountain Valley HS (Rumford) |
Sen. Majority Leader Garrett Mason and Speaker of the House Sara Gideon Sen. Lisa Keim |
| 2018 | Westbrook HS Wells HS |
Rep. Drew Gattine Sen. Ronald Collins and Rep. Robert Foley |
| 2019 | Sanford HS Gorham HS Old Town HS Houlton HS |
Rep. Anne-Marie Mastraccio Rep. Maureen Terry Sen. James Dill Sen. Michael Carpenter |
| 2022 | Oxford Hills HS (South Paris) Leavitt Area HS (Turner) Biddeford HS |
Rep. Sawin Millett Sen. Jeffrey Timberlake Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau and Sen. Susan Deschambault |
| 2023 | Greely HS (Cumberland) Winthrop HS Skowhegan HS |
Rep. Steve Moriarty Rep. Tavis Hasenfus Rep. Jennifer Poirier |
| 2024 | Messalonskee HS (Oakland) Deering HS (Portland) Lewiston HS |
Rep. Robert Nutting Rep. Samuel Zager Sen. Peggy Rotundo and Rep. Kristen Cloutier |