On Thursday, February 21, two St. Mary’s Academy parents will come to the school to “lay down the law” in an unusual way. Presiding Judge Rick Haselton and Judge pro tem Adrienne Nelson will be part of a three-judge panel of The Court of Appeals of the State of Oregon which will be hosting three appeals hearings at the Academy in downtown Portland.
“Several times a year, the Oregon Court of Appeals hosts their appeal hearings in high schools throughout the state,” says Alena Kelly, assistant principal of academics. “The Court has rotated to our school this year and we just happen to have two parents in the panel of judges.”
St. Mary’s American Government, U.S. History, and Speech classes will all attend the arguments and Judge Haselton, Judge Nelson, and Judge Ellen Rosenblum will be available afterward to visit classes more informally for question and answer sessions. The Court will hear three cases: State v. Turner (A131309), State v. Carmona-Gonzalez (A132305), and Peitsch v. Keizer (A132583).
“We have strong Mock Trial teams at St. Mary’s and this is a great chance for them and our other students to experience court proceedings in a familiar setting,” says Pat Barr, principal.
The Court’s appearance at St. Mary’s will not only be beneficial to all, but will also provide high interest. For example, sophomore Logan McDonald would like to seek a career in law or political science. She believes, “If you aspire to a career in civil service that demands public speaking, watching it in real life is very beneficial.”
Founded in 1859 by the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, St. Mary’s Academy of Portland, is Oregon’s oldest continuously operating secondary school and one of 716 all-female schools in the country. The student body represents a diverse background of young women from over 30 urban, suburban, and rural communities in Oregon and Southwest Washington. St. Mary’s Academy is distinguished by its development of the whole person, and is the only school in the state to receive three U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon Schools awards.
