Conestoga High School students will get a firsthand look at the judicial process from inside their school when the Nebraska Supreme Court convenes at Conestoga High School on November 5, 2025. The event has been made possible through the invitation of Principal Rob Geise.

Court of Appeals Judge Lawrence Welch will sit with the Supreme Court in place of Justice Lindsey Miller-Lerman, who retires at the end of October.  The Court, with Welch, will hear two sets of arguments in cases that have been consolidated: S-25-0137 through S-25-0141, In re Interest of Johnny H. (juvenile criminal), and cases S-25-0064 & S-25-0065, Flinn v. Strode (protection orders).

The visit underscores the Court’s commitment to civics education and public engagement, a mission supported by the Nebraska State Bar Foundation.

The session will begin at 10:00 a.m. with Principal Rob Geise setting expectations for students as the auditorium temporarily transforms into an official courtroom. Nebraska City Judge David Partsch will provide an orientation for students, explaining key differences between trial and appellate courts. He will be followed by Nebraska Supreme Court Law Clerk and former Conestoga High School social studies teacher Tony Thies, who will discuss his path from teaching to a career in law.

“These sessions provide an opportunity to connect with students, to show them both the importance of the law and the accessibility of the legal system. We want students to see that the law is not abstract – it is applied every day, with real impact, in communities like theirs. We also remain hopeful that this exposure might encourage young students to pursue a legal career,” noted Welch.

As with all Nebraska Supreme Court argument sessions, this event is open to the public.

Audio and most video recordings of past proceedings are available in the oral argument archive on the Nebraska Judicial Branch website: https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/courts/supreme-court/supreme-court-oral-argument-archive