Michigan Supreme Court takes justice on the road for students

Yahoo

23-04-2025

LOWELL, Mich. (WOOD) — Legal jargon and arguments filled the air at Lowell High School's auditorium Wednesday, as the six sitting justices of the Michigan Supreme Court took their work on the road.
The 31st edition of the Court Community Connection series gave Lowell students and others visiting from local school districts a deeper understanding of the process and power of the state's highest court by letting them see the real deal.
'This is not a mock or fake trial or simulation. You will witness actual oral arguments in the case of People vs. Curtis Allen Morris,' Chief Judge of the Kent County Circuit Court Deborah McNabb said in an introduction to the event.
The peek into the day-to-day proceedings of the Michigan Supreme Court exposed students to nuanced arguments over statute spirit and semantics.
'If he knew he was going to jail that day, he wouldn't have had meth in his pocket,' the defense argued.
'Now it seems the court is looking to further define what conduct means,' the plaintiff's attorney rebutted.
Those arguments were followed by pressing questions from the court.
'Now, I understand you're saying he didn't intentionally drop it but at some point, it's conduct to permit it to fall from your person or intentionally do so,' Justice Brian Zahra said from the stage.
After the arguments, the court recessed and the two participating attorneys took center stage to field questions from the curious crowd. Once the event wrapped up, everyone involved met for a reception to reflect on the case alongside the very justices and litigators they just witnessed work.
'My aunt is an attorney and I've always wanted to fall in that career path,' one Lowell student told News 8. 'I did have a few questions. If the meth didn't fall out of his pants, would he still be charged with (Offense Variable 19)? Seeing it myself and applying it to every day, I thought it was way more effective than just reading about it.'
Those takeaways were just what the judge ordered.
'I think there is a lot of pressure at this age to know what you want to do,' Chief Justice Megan Cavanagh said. 'When you're 16, you're supposed to know what you want to be when you're 50 and that's just not how life works. So I think its important for them to get exposed to things and learn not just about being in law but being in public service.'
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