State Supreme Court to visit Colville Tribes

The Washington State Supreme Court will hold its court at the Lucy Covington Government Center at the Colville Agency near Nespelem on May 7 and 8 as part of its public outreach program.

An April 30 press release from the court detailed the visit.

On the morning of May 7 the court will be visited by local area high school students, and then from 1-3 p.m. the court will hold a public forum at the government center.

On May 8, the Supreme Court will hear arguments on three real cases, all of which are open to the public.

“We invite and encourage anyone interested in learning more about the judicial branch of government to see the workings of the highest court up close and personal,” said Chief Justice Mary E. Fairhurst.

The three cases involve child care licensing for people with certain criminal backgrounds, a mistrial case, and whether snowmobiles are classified as “motor vehicles” in cases of theft.

The Washington State Supreme Court is composed of Chief Justice Mary E. Fairhurst and Associate Justices Charles W. Johnson, Barbara A. Madsen, Susan J. Owens, Debra L. Stephens, Charles K. Wiggins, Steven C. González, Sheryl McCloud and Mary I. Yu.

“This is an important event for the Colville Tribe,” said Colville Business Council Chairman Michael Marchand. “This is a rare opportunity to see Washington’s Supreme Court in action, right here in our tribal community, and I encourage everyone to attend our public forum and oral arguments the next day.”

Oral arguments will be available to stream live at http://www.tvw.org, Washington’s Public Affairs network, and taped for broadcast at a later date.

For more information, call Neeka Somday, legislative assistant, 509-634-2213, or Colville Tribal Court of Appeals Chief Justice Anita Dupris, 509-634-2506.