Velva High School students, accompanied by teacher Ashley Peterson, visited the state capitol on April 20 to observe a live oral argument at the state Supreme Court. After attending the session, the group met with Chief Justice Lisa Fair McEvers and Justice Jerod Tufte for a discussion about judicial work.
The visit gave students an opportunity to see firsthand how the state’s highest court operates. Experiences like this are designed to help young people understand legal processes and civic institutions.
During their meeting with McEvers and Tufte, students asked questions about topics such as work-life balance for judges, reasons why justices might recuse themselves from cases, the responsibilities of a chief justice, and how previous case law influences current decisions. The justices also explained how many cases come before the Supreme Court each month and described how opinions are written.
According to information provided during the event, about twenty schools from across North Dakota have either toured the Supreme Court or hosted a visit from one of its justices as of April 20.
At one point in their visit, Velva High School students gathered at the front of the courtroom with Justice Tufte and Chief Justice McEvers. The interaction aimed to provide insight into both daily operations of the court and broader aspects of judicial service.
