More than 200 high school students from Hickman, Lewis, Perry and Williamson counties will hear oral arguments in two Tennessee Supreme Court cases on Thursday, October 7, as part of a program designed to educate young Tennesseans about the judicial branch of government.
Students and their teachers from six schools, along with home-schooled students, will attend a special Supreme Court session at the Hickman County Courthouse in Centerville where justices will hear oral arguments in two actual cases. Following oral arguments, students will meet for question-and-answer sessions with the attorneys who presented each side in their cases.
Participating students and teachers also will join the Supreme Court for lunch at the Centerville Church of Christ. During lunch and a brief program, students will be seated at tables with the Supreme Court justices, local judges and attorneys, and city, county and school officials.
Schools and organizations participating in SCALES - an acronym for Supreme Court Advancing Legal Education for Students – include Fairview High School, General Assembly Academy, Hickman County High School, Lewis County High School, Middle Tennessee Home Education Association, East Hickman High School and Perry County High School.
To prepare for Thursday’s oral arguments, local judges and attorneys met with teachers to review the cases and the issues that will be considered by the Supreme Court. Teachers also received notebooks of materials and suggested activities to use in teaching the students about the justice system. After the Supreme Court rules in the two cases, copies of the opinions will be provided to the classes and posted on the court system website at www.tncourts.gov.
“The Tennessee Supreme Court believes that educating young people about the judicial branch is paramount to creating productive citizens,” said Chief Justice Cornelia Clark. “The SCALES project is a great opportunity for high school students to get a first-hand look at the Supreme Court in action, while also developing an appreciation for the rule of law and the role it plays in our society.”
More than 20,000 Tennessee students from more than 400 high schools have participated in the SCALES project since its creation in 1995.