The Vermont Supreme Court will hold its annual “On the Road” session at Vermont Law and Graduate School on March 18, where it will hear oral arguments in three cases from 9 to 11:45 a.m. in Oakes Hall, according to a Mar. 17 announcement.
The event gives students and the public an opportunity to observe the judicial process firsthand. The Court’s visit is part of its ongoing effort to make legal proceedings more accessible and transparent.
Chief Justice Paul Reiber said, “We are excited to go to VLGS again this year. Holding oral arguments on campus provides students and the public the opportunity to watch the Court up close. An appeal is an important part of the judicial process and demonstrates how legal disagreements are resolved through dialogue with the lawyers in the cases.”
The three cases scheduled for argument involve whether Middlebury College violated rights by removing Governor Mead’s name from a chapel, whether a defendant’s rights were violated during sentencing after a plea agreement for sexual assault charges, and whether Green Mountain Power owed a duty of care to a child injured while trespassing on company property.
Vermont Judiciary promotes community safety and personal outcomes through treatment-focused dockets for substance use and mental health issues, according to the official website. The judiciary also delivers impartial justice aimed at safeguarding Vermonters’ rights, public safety, and business interests via accessible dispute resolution forums according to its official website.
The judiciary operates throughout Vermont with 14 Superior Court units aligned with each county according to its official website, collaborates with programs like Guardian ad Litem for children in abuse or neglect cases according to its official website, oversees attorney discipline and judicial rules as a coequal branch under the state constitution according to its official website, and provides specialized courts as well as language interpreting and mediation services according to its official website.
The session will be livestreamed on Vermont Law and Graduate School’s YouTube channel, allowing broader access beyond those able to attend in person.
