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