Alaska Supreme Court Holds Hearing at West High

Justices Hear Point Thomson Case Before Live Audience

February 08, 2012|By Ted Land | Channel 2 News

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Hundreds of Anchorage School District students gathered Wednesday for a real-life lesson on the Alaska Supreme Court.

Justices gaveled in during a rare hearing outside the courtroom, held in the West High School auditorium. It's something the court tried for the first time at West two years ago, before a mixed middle-school and high-school audience of about 400 people.

“Being here and being able to witness this I think is a learning experience,” said Jhena Domingo, an East High senior who was in the audience of roughly 800.

The “Supreme Court LIVE” initiative is meant to teach the community about the inner workings of Alaska’s highest court, by holding hearings at various venues around the state before live audiences.

During Wednesday’s session, the court listened to oral arguments over the ongoing Point Thomson dispute.

Point Thomson is an oil and gas field on the North Slope with rich reserves that went untouched for years.

The primary lease-holder, Exxon Mobil, was accused by the state of not developing the area and the state has wanted to take back those leases in order to spur some kind of activity.

After the oral arguments, students questioned the attorneys and justices -- rare access to the power players in the state legal system.

“What’s the purpose of still being in Point Thomson if there’s nothing being produced and there’s really no work being done?” asked one student.

“It has value to the companies, in the ground, and someday it’ll have value to the state if it’s ever produced,” replied Senior Assistant Attorney General Richard Todd.

Other questions were more casual. Another student asked what music the justices listen to before they gavel in.

"Sometimes it might be a nice mellow smooth jazz, sometimes it might be The Beatles," said Justice Daniel Winfree.

Now both sides wait. It could be months before the justices issue their written decision.

“I think it’s kind of cool to see them just maintain composure and keep going and going with the punches,” said Fred Falealili, an East High senior.

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