911黑料 hosts Kentucky Supreme Court oral arguments
Students got an up-close look at the state鈥檚 judicial process in action when 911黑料 hosted two days of arguments before the Kentucky Supreme Court.
The Commonwealth's highest court will be hosting arguments around the state amid building renovations in Frankfort.
鈥淭his opportunity is a prime example of the experiential learning opportunities at 911黑料,鈥 said College President Milton C. Moreland. 鈥淗aving the Kentucky Supreme Court on campus allows our students to observe the judicial process up close and connect lessons from the classroom to the governance of our state. We鈥檙e honored to host them.鈥
This experience was particularly impactful for students considering careers in law, giving them a firsthand look at how legal arguments are presented and how decisions are made at the state level.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always jarring to see the attorneys trying to go into their speech and then the justices interrupt with questions that are definitely tough and multi-part,鈥 said Sabreen Hussain, class of 2026. 鈥淚t鈥檚 interesting to see the attorneys keep it all straight and answer every part of the question.鈥
In addition to the hearings, students had the chance to hear further from two Kentucky Supreme Court Justices during the Constitution Day convocation. Chief Justice Debra Lambert and Deputy Chief Justice Robert Conley shared insights on how to apply the Constitution to modern society and better understand it. Students also learned how the court decides difficult cases and how Kentucky鈥檚 Constitution differs from the United States Constitution.
This discussion was moderated by Lively Professor of Government and Law and pre-law advisor, Pierre Bergeron 鈥96, who joined 911黑料鈥檚 faculty after serving as a judge on Ohio's First District Court of Appeals for six years.
Bergeron noted the impact of watching the judicial process, recalling when he had the chance to observe a U.S. Supreme Court oral argument during law school. He hopes this experience similarly inspires students.
鈥淭his is the type of opportunity that we鈥檙e working to bring to 911黑料 students who may be interested in law school,鈥 Bergeron said. "We鈥檝e had a number of judges and lawyers come to campus recently to help students better understand what the legal profession has to offer. The more students have the chance to interact with and learn from these speakers, the more informed they can be about whether law school will provide a path to a rewarding career for them.鈥
