Watkinson School is pleased to announce that the CT Supreme Court’s “On Circuit” program is coming to campus on Wednesday, March 27. Annually, the court selects a location at which to hear arguments, with the goal of educating students about the role and responsibilities of the Judicial branch of our government and specifically the appellate system through this interactive and engaging real-life experience. Watkinson is proud to host this year and is grateful to Justice Raheem Mullins ’97 for making this possible for our community. Watkinson is only the second high school the “On Circuit” program has ever visited.
Head of School Teri Schrader adds, “With this experience, our students have an extraordinary opportunity to witness our system of justice in real life, in real time. It is vitally important that we remember that at its core, the process of constructing and hearing an appeal is a critical element of what lies at the heart of our way of life: striving for fairness and justice. It is all too easy to become cynical when we do not understand or feel connected to the ideals of the levels of our government. That Court will be in session at our school draws our young people into the reality and importance of the judicial system in a visceral and unforgettable way. We are honored to host and to have this rare opportunity on our campus.”
On March 27th, our Foisie Family Amphitheater will become a real courtroom and over the course of the morning, the Supreme Court Justices will hear two cases. Our faculty have been preparing students in their history and global studies classes to ensure our students will take maximum advantage of this extraordinary learning opportunity.
The “On Circuit” event is open to the public. The schedule for the day is as follows:
- 10:00-11:00am — A criminal case will be heard
- 11:00-11:20am — Q&A with the attorneys
- 11:30am-12:30pm — A civil case will be heard
- 12:30-12:50pm — Q&A with the attorneys
Make plans to join us on campus for one or both of the cases. Please be sure to allow enough time to park and walk to our amphitheater. Attendees will be required to pass through a metal detector before entering the theater.
Watkinson School is a coed independent private day school for grades 6-12/PG. If you know a student who isn’t thriving in their current educational environment, please invite them to schedule a visit today.
