FORKS — Members of the public can meet the justices of the state Supreme Court in Forks on Wednesday.
A reception for the visiting justices is set from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Forks branch of Peninsula College at 481 S. Forks Ave.
It will be preceded by a panel discussion beginning at 4:30 p.m. at the college branch.
The justices, who usually meet in Olympia, will visit Forks classrooms Wednesday and hear oral arguments in appeals of three criminal cases and answer questions from residents Thursday.
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.
Schedule Wednesday
Wednesday, the justices will visit schools in LaPush, Clallam Bay, Amanda Park and Forks.
Their itinerary Wednesday is:
■ LaPush, 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. — Owens and Associate Chief Justice Charles Johnson will meet students at the Quileute Tribal School.
■ Clallam Bay, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. — Owens and Johnson will address a civics class followed by a joint junior high/high school assembly and discussion at Clallam Bay High School.
■ Amanda Park, noon — Justices Mary Fairhurst and Debra Stephens will hold discussions with junior high and high school students at Lake Quinault School.
■ Forks, noon to 2:30 p.m. — Justices Charles Wiggins and Sheryl Gordon McCloud will meet with seventh- and ninth-grade students at Forks Junior High School.
Chief Justice Barbara Madsen will meet with fifth- and sixth-grade students at Forks Intermediary School.
Justices Steven González and Mary Yu will meet with students at Forks High School.
■ City tour, 3 p.m. — Justices will arrive at Forks City Hall, 500 E. Division St., for a tour with Rod Fleck, city planner/attorney; Police Chief Rick Bart; and Mayor Bryon Monohon.
■ Panel discussion, 4:30 p.m. — Forks branch of Peninsula College.
■ Public reception, 5:30 p.m. — Forks branch of Peninsula College.
Thursday
On Thursday, 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.
Oral arguments
The court’s schedule Thursday:
■ 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.
