Maine Supreme Judicial Court to hold hearings at three high schools

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court will conduct oral arguments at three different high schools starting next week. This educational initiative, which has been running for 21 years, aims to provide students with real-time exposure to the judicial branch and supplement their civics education.

Proceedings will begin on Tuesday at Katahdin Middle/High School in Stacyville, featuring cases such as an appeal of a murder conviction and a 50-year sentence, a bail revocation dispute, and a request for unredacted public documents. The court will hear a total of nine appellate cases during the week.

Following the Stacyville sessions, justices will move to Morse High School in Bath on Wednesday and Kennebunk High School on Thursday. To facilitate the hearings, school facilities like gyms or auditoriums are converted into temporary courtrooms. Students are provided with case briefs in advance and are permitted to ask lawyers questions following the arguments.