Sandusky County to Host Official Ohio Supreme Court Session in September

By Stephanie Beougher - July 16, 2015

The Ohio Supreme Court will be traveling to Fremont Ross High School in Sandusky County for its twice-a-year Off-Site Court program. On Sept. 16, oral arguments will start at 9 a.m. This is the 71st time the court will take its show on the road since the program started in 1987.

"It really provides meaningful, worthwhile experience for the students. It introduces them to the Supreme Court, it helps them to understand and put into context the judicial branch of government," Chief Justice O'Connor said.

Students and teachers from Fremont Ross and nine other schools will receive material to study beforehand, including summaries of the specific cases Chief Justice O'Connor has selected to be argued.

"We have wonderful attorneys that volunteer to prep the students before the case so that they're familiar with the facts and their familiar with the issues, and then they debrief them after the students have witnessed oral argument."

Chief Justice O'Connor said her favorite part of the day is when the justices meet with students for a question-and-answer session before the oral arguments start.

"It's also an opportunity for the justices to recount their beginnings and how they got on to the bench. Nobody on our bench was born with a silver spoon in their mouth and they all talk about how the attained their education and their path to the Supreme Court," she added.

Previews of the central arguments in each of the cases will be released in the coming weeks.