Beginning at 9 a.m. Sept. 25 in the CUB Ballroom, Chief Justice Gerry Alexander and Justices Charles W. Johnson, Barbara A. Madsen, Richard B. Sanders, Tom Chambers, Susan Owens, Mary Fairhurst, James M. Johnson and Debra Stephens will hear the arguments on two cases, State v. Kramer and Otis Housing Ass’n, Inc. v. Ha.
Justices will have lunch with students of the WSU Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service, and reconvene at 1:30 p.m. to hear the last case of the day, In re: Pers. Restraint of Tobin, Douglas Tobin v. State. Written opinions are rendered approximately three to six months after oral arguments.
“The Court enjoys visiting our state’s great universities,” said Alexander. “In addition to WSU students, we encourage anyone interested in learning more about the judicial branch of government to see the workings of the highest court up close and personal.”
Since 1985, the state’s highest court, located in Olympia, has heard cases “on the road” three times a year in an outreach effort to allow citizens to see the court in action in their local communities.
All Washington Supreme Court oral arguments are open to the public and are broadcasted at a later date via Washington’s Public Affairs network, TVW.
Though cameras and video recorders are generally allowed, the Court asks that no flash, other lights or noisy film advance mechanisms be used during the hearings. Only one television camera will be allowed to film the oral arguments; other TV stations are asked to pool coverage.
