Constitution Day Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

Court Hearing Arguments On-the-Road for Constitution Day

The West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals (ICA) will leave their Charleston courtrooms on Tuesday to hear an argument docket at Davis & Elkins College in Elkins, West Virginia. The event falls on Constitution Day. Proceedings will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the college’s Harper-McNeeley Auditorium.

Tuesday’s event is the third in the ICA on Campus series, aimed at engaging the public with the judiciary’s role in West Virginia. Judges have taught in selected colleges’ classrooms on topics such as checks and balances and disparities in the legal system based on socioeconomic factors like race and gender.

“Every part of life is tied, in one way or the other, to the law and our legal system,” Chief Justice Thomas Scarr said.

Scarr said the court tries to assemble on-the-road dockets with topics that interest students or have regional relevance along with engaging lawyers arguing the cases. Tuesday’s docket will include a West Virginia University Law student arguing a case, a first for the ICA.

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals will visit Williamstown Middle/High School on Oct. 8. Both courts’ oral arguments are always open to the public both in-person and via webcast on the West Virginia Judiciary YouTube page.

State’s Highest Courts Take Arguments To Universities

West Virginia’s highest courts are hitting the road this month as part of Constitution Day events at Concord and Marshall universities.

The Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia will hear oral arguments in Huntington at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13, at the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center.

Attendance is free and open to the public; advance registration is requested. The proceedings will also be webcast live on the West Virginia Judiciary YouTube.

The Supreme Court has a tradition of visiting Marshall every few years in mid-September to honor the anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787.

“I’m thrilled to bring the court back to the Marshall campus,” Chief Justice Beth Walker said. “Our last visit was in 2019 before COVID-19, so it’s exciting to resume this great tradition coinciding with Constitution Day.”

Marshall University is named for former U.S. Chief Justice John Marshall. He was the longest serving chief justice in court history from 1801 to 1835.

Concord University will host the West Virginia Intermediate Court of Appeals at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 21, in the Main Theater. The court will hear three arguments.

The event is open to the public and will allow people to see the inner workings of the court and learn about the legal process.

Watch: Senator Robert C. Byrd's 2005 Speech on Constitution Day

This year, September 17th is designated as Constitution Day in the United States. The designation is a result of The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005. Senator Robert C. Byrd’s leadership was instrumental in the passage of the act and, as such, the designation of the event.

As C-SPAN’s website states:

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2005 states that educational institutions receiving federal funds shall hold an educational program for its students. The program is to be about the United States Constitution and held on September 17 each year or during the week before or after.

On September 16th, 2005, Sen. Byrd gave a speech on the importance of the United States Constitution at Shepherd University. His remarks begin near the 11:30 mark of the video.