State Supreme Court justices are on the road again

The Michigan Supreme Court is taking to the road this week with justices set to hear arguments Wednesday before more than 1,000 high school students, teachers and judges in the western Michigan city of Jenison.

The appearance at Jenison Center for the Arts in Ottawa County is part of the “Court Community Connections” program.

Justices will be hearing oral arguments in Peter Deacon v Pandora Media, Inc.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has asked the court to consider a certified question.

At issue in the order is whether to grant the request to answer the certified question and whether Peter Deacon has stated a claim against Pandora for violation of the Michigan Video Rental Privacy Act by adequately alleging that Pandora is in the business of “renting” or “lending” sound recordings, and that he is a “customer” of Pandora, because he “rents” or “borrows” sound recordings from Pandora.

Participating students are from Allendale, Black River, Coopersville, Grand Haven, Holland, Hudsonville, Jenison, Spring Lake, Unity Christian, West Ottawa, Zeeland East and Zeeland West.

A debriefing session with attorneys will follow oral argument.

Seating will be available beginning at noon in the following courthouses to watch the proceedings via live stream: Grand Haven – 20th Circuit Court, 414 Washington Avenue, Courtroom 3B; Holland – 58th District Court, 85 West 8th Street, Courtroom B; Hudsonville – 58th District Court, 3100 Port Sheldon Road, Courtroom A; West Olive – 20th Circuit Court, Family Division, 12120 Fillmore Street, Courtroom C.

While the Supreme Court normally hears oral argument at the Michigan Hall of Justice in Lansing, Supreme Court justices and staff travel to various communities as part of “Court Community Connections.”

The program was introduced in 2007 as a public education program aimed principally at high school students.

The goal is to help students understand the appellate courts and Michigan’s judicial system.