On Wednesday, Oct. 9, over 100 Portland high school students witnessed the Maine Supreme Judicial Court in action, right inside their own school. The six justices seated on the stage of the Deering High School auditorium heard oral arguments on three appeals cases, giving students an authentic look at the functioning of Maine’s judicial system.
“It’s a lesson in civics that hopefully will stay with them for the rest of their lives,” said Rep. Samuel Zager, D-Portland, who invited the court to the school.
“They can get a firsthand glimpse at the length to which our state, our society, goes to try to ensure justice,” Zager said.
…Zager said he invited the court to Portland with the hope that the oral arguments would show students the pursuit of justice in a sometimes-unjust world.
“I can understand why students who are in high school now would be extremely frustrated with the world that they are learning about,” Zager said. “That why it’s so important to make sure that the younger generation has hope and sees the lengths, the mechanics, the manner of a fair trial and how an appellate process can help move us even a little closer towards the ideal of justice for all.”
Burchell, S. (2024) ‘Maine Supreme Court hears appeals at Deering High School’, Portland Press Herald, October 14. Available at https://www.pressherald.com/2024/10/14/maine-supreme-court-hears-appeals-at-deering-high-school/ (Accessed: November 4, 2024)
