NORTH SMITHFIELD – It’s a tradition that harkens back to a time when judicial officers would travel on horseback between jurisdictions to hear cases, brought back to life in Rhode Island once again this week for the benefit of students at North Smithfield High School.
The school hosted a session of Rhode Island Supreme Court, allowing students the opportunity to hear the oral arguments in complex legal cases before the state’s “court of last resort.”
A civics/outreach program known as Riding the Circuit or Travel Court, the process gives the students a first hand look at how their justice system operates.
“This is a wonderful tradition that the court has had for many years,” said Chief Justice Paul Suttell at the start of proceedings in the auditorium of the school on Thursday, April 2.
The term “Riding the Circuit” dates back to the 1700s before the advent of motorized transportation. Modern day justices have traditionally taken their work on the road in Rhode Island as a way to open the judicial process to the public, but the travel sessions stopped during the Covid-19 pandemic.
This week, North Smithfield students heard three cases, all challenging decisions of a lower court. Among the hearings was a dispute that stemmed from an industrial rigging and crane service company operating adjacent to a historic neighborhood on Post Road in Warwick.
Through Attorney Thomas Dickinson, the owners of North American Crane & Rigging were at the Greenville Road school to appeal a decision by Superior Court Judge Daniel Procaccini that grant their neighbors a preliminary injunction and restraining order in the case, which began over noise complaints.
“It’s potentially depriving the defendant of the use of his property,” said Dickinson during a ten minute presentation of his arguments in the appeal.
The justices occasionally interjected with questions and clarifications, with final opinions ultimately to be issued at a later date.
“The process usually takes six to eight weeks, which includes intensive research with lengthy discussions preceding the writing of opinions,” noted a pamphlet explaining the proceedings passed out to every visitor this week. “Cases are decided by a majority vote of the justices.”
The second case revolved around a dispute over funds paid out to someone who was not legally supposed to be the beneficiary upon a man’s death – at least according to a previous judge who issued summary judgement in a claim of unjust enrichment.
For the students and others in the courtroom-for-a-day, the proceedings provided plenty of opportunity for learning, as Suttell occasionally asked the attorneys to explain various legal terms. For the five justices, it was business as usual, albeit in a new venue.
Later, the students would have the opportunity to interact with the court to discuss what they observed during the proceedings.
“’Riding the Circuit’ is a unique civics education program for Rhode Island students and I am pleased the Supreme Court was able to bring the courtroom experience directly into a local high school again,” said Suttell in a statement following the event. “My colleagues and I would like to extend our thanks to the North Smithfield High School community for hosting this year’s event and to the students for their astute questions.”
Principal Daniel Geraghty described the event as “a remarkable experience” for the students.
“Rhode Island has made civic education a priority, and events like this show exactly why that matters,” Geraghty said. “Watching oral arguments and then sitting across from the justices to ask questions brought civics off the page in a way no textbook ever could. We are proud to have hosted this event and grateful to Chief Justice Suttell and the Court for making North Smithfield part of this tradition.”
