High School Students Get Firsthand Look at Ohio Supreme Court in Action ; Justices Held Surprises As Students Listened in on Oral Arguments in a Case

By Ben Sutherly Staff Writer

GREENVILLE -- More than 200 students watched their seven Ohio Supreme Court justices hear oral arguments in four cases and occasionally spar with attorneys Wednesday at the Darke County Courthouse.

The county is the 54th of Ohio's 88 counties to host the Supreme Court's Off-Site Court program since its inception in 1987. The program is meant to educate high school students about the judiciary.

Darke County attorneys met with high school students from Greenville, Versailles, Bradford, Ansonia, Miami Valley Career Technology Center, Arcanum, Tri-Village, Franklin-Monroe, Mississinawa Valley and a home-schooled group prior to Wednesday's oral arguments before the Supreme Court. During those sessions, students learned the particulars of one case.

On Wednesday, they split up and attended oral arguments for the case they had studied. Afterward, they discussed the case with attorneys who had just argued their position before the justices.

During a question-and-answer session with students just before oral arguments, the justices explained they typically make tentative decisions on cases immediately after hearing oral arguments, then finalize those decisions several weeks later after majority and dissenting opinions have been drafted. Occasionally, the dissenting opinion can become the majority opinion if enough justices change their minds.

Some students expected the justices to be more passive on the bench.

"The justices, they just kind of interrupt," said Courtney Swabb, 18, a senior at Ansonia High School. "It just kind of takes you by surprise."

Paul Reitz, 15, a Greenville High School freshman, asked several questions about a Hamilton County case hinging on whether a corporate auto insurance policy should have provided coverage for an employee's injuries in an automobile accident. Afterward, he explained he wants to become an attorney.

"The thing that most surprised me was the judge with a laptop and a blue robe instead of a black one," he said.

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