As Falmouth High School’s new mock trial team enters its second month of existence, the club got both an auspicious sign and a strong recruiting tool — a visit from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court. 

“It was super cool that the year we happened to be starting this club was also the year that they decided to come to Falmouth,” said Calla Hehmeyer, a junior and founding member of the mock trial team.

Each fall since 2005 — except for a two year hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic — the Maine Supreme Judicial Court hears oral arguments for appeals cases at three high schools across Maine, turning an auditorium, gymnasium or cafeteria into a courtroom for a morning. After hearing appeals at Upper Kennebec Valley High School in Bingham and Oak Hill High School in Wales earlier this week, the six justices heard three cases Thursday in the Falmouth High School auditorium, which was packed with students. 

The high court heard appeals on a murder case involving imperfect self-defense and expert testimony, an OUI case concerning the voluntariness of a breath test given the threat of jail time, and the validity of a remote marriage ceremony.

Hearing the first arguments about gunshots locations and blood spatter analysis, students were silent, locked in to the intense proceedings. The intricacies of OUIs sparked more restlessness one might expect in an audience of teenagers.

Surpassing over 50 high schools visited, the traveling oral arguments serve to better illustrate the “most hidden,” branch of the Maine government, said Chief Justice Valerie Stanfill, as they arguments shape the legal future of the state. 

“It is one of our great pleasures when we go out every year to the high schools and see the students,” Stanfill told the students. “We hope that at least for some of you, it’s a pleasure for you as well.” 

Associate Justice Andrew Mead said he was glad to have a full audience for these cases — a departure from when they typically set up in Augusta, Bangor and Portland. 

“We may get one or two people watching those arguments,” said Mead. 

All Falmouth high schoolers sat for at least one hour-long argument section. Each began with the justices introducing themselves to the students, followed by the presentation and interrogation of the arguments and a question-and-answer session where the students could ask the attorneys questions about their arguments after the justices left for their “chambers,” which today were converted locker rooms. 

Some students had read the case packets beforehand or were filling out worksheets, while others went in blind and attempted to follow along. Social studies teacher Shawn Magaw led a moot court exercise in his civics class prior to the justices’ visit, familiarizing students with how the proceeding would go.  

More important to Magaw than achieving detailed understanding, he wanted all students to see the law in action and themselves as active participants in the temporary courtroom. 

“It’s about agency. It’s all about understanding they have agency as citizens in our democracy,” said Magaw.

The Maine Supreme Judicial Court hears oral arguments at schools on invitation of a representative of the district. Last in Falmouth in 2007, they made this visit after being invited by Rep. Amy Kuhn, D-Falmouth. 

“I learned about the opportunity, and I just thought the kids at Falmouth would really get a lot out of it,” said Kuhn. 

“It’s a great opportunity to make the judicial branch, the law relevant to their lives and show how justice actually works in our state,” she said. 

Kuhn said she hoped it would not only prompt civic engagement, but also potentially students’ legal pursuits. 

“I sort of have this secret hope that maybe some student will be inspired to pursue a career in the law. We need more lawyers in Maine,” said Kuhn. 

Members of the novel mock trial team said they have similar motivations in founding their club, as they wanted a way to learn more about the law, legal careers and public speaking. Already with over a dozen members, the team is preparing for its first mock case this November. 

“I think this was like a real eye opener for a lot of students of what it would look like to be in an appellate court and a lawyer in that way,” said junior Lilah Feuer. 

Watching the oral arguments emphasized that research and preparation is the bedrock of practicing the law, not just the arguments and action in court, said junior Varada Nguyen. Other students said this showed that practicing law not just about who got the the final say.

“When people think of lawyers, they think of a jury. They think of convicting people, they think of a result. But this was more like closing statements and a panel of justices,” said Hehmeyer. 

 “I feel like seeing that in action and showing there are different places that you can practice law, and different routes you could go is just cool too,” she said.