Maine Supreme Court holds session at Fryeburg Academy

FRYEBURG — Arguing cases before the Maine Supreme Judicial Court, three pairs of lawyers had more of an audience at their back than usual: hundreds of students from three high schools.

The court heard three cases in the Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center at Fryeburg Academy. In addition to students from the academy, classes from Lake Region High School in Naples and Sacopee Valley High School in Hiram were invited to the event.

Chief Justice Leigh Saufley said the court began holding sessions in Maine schools five years ago after Sen. John Martin, D-Eagle Lake, invited them to Caribou. Saufley said the goal was to allow people to see the appellate court operate outside its normal venue and strengthen connections between the state's legislative and judicial branches.

"It was such a successful event, and rewarding I think for everyone involved, that we determined to expand the program," Saufley said. "We try to cover areas that wouldn't normally see this kind of court."

Saufley said the court aims to hold three sessions per year at high schools around the state. It has heard cases this year at Fort Kent High School and Georges Valley High School in Thomaston. Friday's session was held at Fryeburg Academy at the request of Sen. David Hastings III, R-Fryeburg.

"I think it's really good for people to see, and these students to see, how these courts operate firsthand," Hastings said.

In one case, Androscoggin County Assistant District Attorney Deborah Cashman and defense attorney Clifford Strike presented their arguments in an appeal of the conviction of Christopher Cook of Lewiston. Cook was found guilty of using a threatening note to rob the Community Credit Union in Lewiston last year, and in January he was sentenced to serve 10 years in prison.

Strike said that seven jurors had expressed concern that Cook's girlfriend may have taken photos of them with a cell phone camera outside the courtroom. He also said court was not canceled during a severe winter storm on the day the jury began its deliberations, and the decision may have affected the verdict. Cashman said there was sufficient evidence to find Cook guilty, and that neither the potential photo issue nor storm affected the verdict.

During each argument, a green light came on in front of the justices, an indication that they could interrupt to ask him questions. Justice Donald Alexander questioned whether having a loved one take pictures of jurors could become an easy way to cause a mistrial, and justices also pondered whether a ban on cell phones in the courtroom should be expanded to the rest of the courthouse.

The justices were not allowed to hear audience questions since the cases are under advisement, but the lawyers on each of the three cases stayed behind after the arguments to answer questions from the audience. Some related directly to the cases, while others focused on the judicial process itself.

Roger Smith, who was attending the session with his honors U.S. history class, asked Cashman and Strike what was important to put into a legal brief. Cashman said she lays out the case clearly with facts and support for an argument, and Strike said he looks for a point of the case that will get the attention of the court.

Smith said his students are preparing briefs in defense of amendments to the U.S. Constitution for an assignment, and will present their arguments before the class. He said the students were both more frightened and more enthusiastic after seeing the lawyers peppered with questions from the justices.

"I thought it was very impressive. I thought our students got a lot out of it," Smith said. "They really wanted to know what it's like to get up in front of the court."

Lynde Folsom, a senior at Fryeburg Academy, said she has a personal interest in philosophy, which she said is similar to law. She said the experience helped her to make a more personal connection with the court system.

"I absolutely loved it, because it gives me such insight about the whole judicial process," she said.

mlangeveld@sunjournal.com

M. Dirk Langeveld/Sun Journal

Lynde Folsom, a senior at Fryeburg Academy, speaks with Chief Justice Leigh Saufley of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court and Maine Sen. David Hastings III, R-Fryeburg, on Friday. The court heard arguments in three court cases as part of its  regular visits to Maine high schools.

- M. Dirk Langeveld