Reception planned in Forks on Sept. 9 for state Supreme Court justices

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, August 26, 2015

FORKS — A public reception for the justices of the state Supreme Court is planned at the Forks branch of Peninsula College on Wednesday, Sept. 9.

The reception will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 481 S. Forks Ave.

The justices, who usually meet in Olympia, will travel to Forks to visit schoolrooms Sept. 9 and hear oral arguments in appeals of three criminal cases and answer questions from residents Sept. 10.

Among them will be Justice Susan Owens, who served 19 years as a Clallam County District Court judge. She worked five years as the Quileute tribe’s chief judge and six as chief judge for the Lower Elwha Klallam tribe.

Owens and other members of the court will meet with members of the community during the reception, co-sponsored by the city of Forks and the Peninsula College Foundation.

Light refreshments will be served, and guests will have a chance to meet the justices and ask questions.

On Thursday, Sept. 10, the public can observe the judicial process as the justices hear oral arguments in the appeals of three criminal cases in the Great Room of the Rainforest Art Center, 35 N. Forks Ave., beginning at 9 a.m.

The court also will answer questions from the audience during the process.

“This is a really unique opportunity for the public to see how the court operates and the role the court plays in ‘making the law,’” said Rod Fleck, Forks city attorney.

The court’s second-day schedule Sept. 10:

■ 9 a.m. to 9:40 a.m. — Welcoming comments and oral arguments in State of Washington vs. Tammera M. Thurlby.

■ 9:55 a.m. to 10:35 a.m. — Oral arguments in State of Washington vs. Troy J. Wilcoxon.

■ 10:35 a.m. to 11 a.m. — Question-and-answer session with members of the audience.

■ 11 a.m. to noon — Justices’ conference.

■ Noon to 1 p.m. — Lunch.

■ 1:30 p.m. to 2:10 p.m. — Oral arguments in State of Washington vs. Spencer L. Miller/Darryl Henderson.

For more information about the reception, email Deborah Scannell at dscannell@pencol.edu.