High School Students Headed to Supreme Court

MADISON, October 6, 2005 – 30 students from Waukesha South High School will travel to the state capitol in Madison on October 12 to observe Supreme Court oral arguments at 9:45 a.m. and later meet with Supreme Court Justice Ann Walsh Bradley. A program called Court with Class, which is sponsored by the State Bar of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Supreme Court, makes the trip possible.

The students will observe a case that involves application of a legal doctrine known as the Doctrine of Laches, which is similar to the statute of limitations. The Doctrine of Laches (laches is a French word that roughly translates to “negligence”) says that, for reasons of fairness to all parties, a person who procrastinates unduly long in asserting a legal right may forego the opportunity to exercise that right. In this case, the Supreme Court will decide if laches may bar a petition for a writ of habeas corpus.

Habeas corpus is Latin for "You have the body." A writ of habeas corpus is a judicial order forcing law enforcement authorities to produce a prisoner they are holding, and to justify the prisoner's continued confinement. This writ is considered to be a very important safeguard of every individual’s freedom.

Court with Class has won two national awards since its inception eight years ago. The program aims to enrich the high school civics curriculum by bringing students from around the state to watch a Supreme Court hearing and meet with a justice. Prior to the field trips, teachers receive a variety of teaching materials. The program brings a total of approximately 1,500 high school students from approximately 70 schools during the Supreme Court term (September - June).

The State Bar of Wisconsin is the mandatory professional association, created by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, for attorneys who hold a Wisconsin law license. With more than 21,000 members, the State Bar aids the courts in improving the administration of justice, provides continuing legal education for its members to help them maintain their expertise, and assists Wisconsin lawyers in carrying out community service initiatives to educate the public about the legal system and the value of lawyers.

For more information, visit www.legalexplorer.com or www.wicourts.gov/about/resources/courtwclass.htm.