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Four cases will be heard by the Supreme Court of Ohio in Union County on Wednesday, May 7, according to an announcement by Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer. The Court’s visit is part of the semiannual Off-Site Court program.
Oral arguments will be heard by the seven Justices of the Supreme Court at 9 a.m. at the Union County Courthouse, 215 W. Fifth St., Marysville. The cases include: Bartchy et al. v. State Board of Education and Cincinnati City School District, Case No. 2007-0411 (Franklin County); Frisch’s Restaurants, Inc. v. Ryan, Case No. 2007-0544 (Franklin County); State v. Veney, Case Nos. 2007-0656 and 2007-0657 (Franklin County); and State v. Swann, Case No. 2007-1046 (Franklin County).
Summaries of all four cases to be argued can be accessed via the Supreme Court’s Web site at http://www.supremecourtofohio.gov/Communications_Office/oral_arguments/08/0507/0507.asp.
“We consider it an honor and a privilege that Union County has been chosen as an off-site location for the court this year,” said Judge Richard Parrott of the Union County Court of Common Pleas. “Quite a few local attorneys who’ve never had the chance to argue before the highest court in Ohio are looking forward to observing the oral arguments.”
The Off-Site Court program, initiated by Chief Justice Moyer in 1987, has gained national recognition as a model program for education about the judiciary. The program enhances students’ understanding of the legal system by providing an opportunity for hundreds of students personally to attend and observe the proceedings of the Supreme Court and interact with Justices, attorneys and Court staff.
“This is a real opportunity for our students to become personally involved with the court,” said Judge Charlotte Coleman Eufinger of the Union County Probate and Juvenile Court. “The activities which the Supreme Court is offering our students will make this a very memorable and meaningful day for them.”
Public, private and home-schooled students from throughout Union County will participate in the program. Participating schools include: Fairbanks High School, Marysville Christian Academy, Marysville Middle School, Marysville High School, North Union High School, Ohio Hi-Point Career Center, Tolles Career & Technical Center and Tri-Rivers Career Center.
The students and their teachers will receive curriculum material to study before the session, including summaries of the specific cases to be argued. Local attorneys will team with educators at each participating school to explain Ohio’s judicial system and review the case materials. On the morning of May 7, students will attend a special briefing during which they may ask questions and interact with Justices of the Court.
Students from each participating school will be assigned to attend one of the oral arguments. After their assigned case has been argued, each group will meet with the case attorneys for a debriefing and discussion of the legal issues in the argument they just heard.
“We are honored to host the Justices of the Supreme Court of Ohio and their Off-Site Court program,” said Sharon Robinson-Walls, president of the Union County Bar Association. “This event provides a rare opportunity for Union County students and community members to actively witness the workings of our state’s highest court and see first-hand how justice is administered.”
Chief Justice Moyer said the Union County session will mark the 55th time the Supreme Court has heard oral arguments outside Columbus during the past 21 years.
“The idea of this program is to bring the Court closer to the public and especially young people,” Chief Justice Moyer said. “Our off-site sessions have enabled 31,410 Ohioans, 23,685 of them high school students, to observe the Supreme Court in action without leaving their communities.”
A video with background information about the program may be viewed online by visiting the Supreme Court Web site at www.supremecourtofohio.gov/introduction/offsite_court/default.asp.
Supreme Court Contacts: Chris Davey or Bret Crow, 614.387.9250
Union County Contact: Julia Smith, Union County Court of Common Pleas Court, 937.645.3015