HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WVDN) – The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia will convene Tuesday, September 23, at Marshall University’s Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center to hear oral arguments in three cases as part of the university’s Court on Campus program, presented by the John Deaver Drinko Academy and Simon Perry Center for Constitutional Democracy.
In addition to Marshall students, approximately 200 high school students from Huntington High School and Cabell Midland High School are anticipated to attend Tuesday’s arguments. The event is also open to media and members of the public.
“As a Marshall graduate, I am proud to bring the Supreme Court to my alma mater to give our college and high school students a firsthand opportunity to see the judicial branch of government and our legal system in action,” said Chief Justice William R. “Bill” Wooton, who graduated from Marshall with a bachelor’s degree in business management.
“It’s one thing to learn about the legal system in a college course or high school social studies class, but being able to witness real cases be debated right before you can help students better relate to what they study about in the classroom,” Chief Justice Wooton said. “Additionally, my fellow justices and I enjoy tremendously the opportunity to interact with students and answer their questions about the judiciary and the important role the rule of law plays in our society. We hope this visit may inspire some of these young students to potentially pursue a career in law or public service.”
The Supreme Court has a history of visiting Marshall every few years to conduct oral arguments. The most recent visit was in September 2023.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity again to host the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia for oral arguments in the Joan C. Edwards Playhouse at Marshall,” said Dr. Montserrat Miller, Executive Director of the John Deaver Drinko Academy.
“Seeing the Supreme Court in action offers our students, area highschoolers, and the public in attendance real-time, live exposure to the judicial process,” Dr. Miller said. “Building respect for, and interest in, the rule of law is the key objective of our Court on Campus program.”
The argument docket for Tuesday will be as follows:
- 10 a.m. – Case No. 24-547: State of West Virginia ex rel. Aaron Jimmie Urban v. The Honorable David Hardy, Judge of the Circuit Court of Kanawha County, and the State of West Virginia
- 10:40 a.m. – Case No. 23-717: Ronald Hardy, et al. v. 3M Company, et al.
- 11 a.m. – Case No. 23-344: State of West Virginia v. James Carroll DePriest
Upon conclusion of the arguments, attorneys in the final case will have the opportunity to take questions from students in attendance. The Supreme Court justices will then conduct a separate general question-and-answer session with the students in the auditorium.
Full information about the docket, including briefs filed in the cases, is available at: https://www.courtswv.gov/appellate-courts/supreme-court-of-appeals/current-docket/september.
The event will also be livestreamed on the Court’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@wvsupremecourt.
