By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
Members of the public will get an opportunity next week to observe as the Washington State Supreme Court holds sessions on three cases at Centralia College.
Taking the state’s highest court on the road is part of an outreach effort so citizens can see the court in action, something they do periodically, according to college spokesperson Don Frey.
“They’ve never been to Centralia College before, but they have done it at other colleges in the state,” Frey said.
The sessions take place in Corbet Theater on Thursday May 10 at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and again at 1:30 p.m.
The final sessions will have a 20-minute question and answer period with the audience.
The State Supreme Court is located in Olympia on the grounds of the state capitol. All oral arguments are open to the public.
The nine justices will deliberate in private following the third session at the college.
Frey said he didn’t have details of the particular cases. They are however listed on the court’s spring schedule [1].
The two-day visit begins on Wednesday May 9, with a luncheon with student leaders, campus tour and includes some of the justices leading a political science class, a criminal justice class and an anthropology class.
The justices will be presenters at a 90-minute forum beginning at 1 p.m. that day, also in Corbet Theater and also open to the public, according to the college.
It will include a discussion on variety of judicial topics such as funding of basic education in K-12; school violence including bullying, sexual and racial harassment, shootings and guns on campus, gay rights including marriage, growth management, law enforcement and civil rights, and first amendment rights, according to organizers.
A reception co-hosted by the Lewis County Bar Association will follow at 3:30 p.m. on the third floor of the science building.