On March 10th, 2026, Harford Community College became the 6th location to host the off-site public hearings by the Maryland Supreme Court. Over 200 students from Harford County Public Schools were present at this hearing, and I was luckily selected as one of the few from Fallston.
I had a great learning experience at this historic and enriching event. Alongside some other Fallston students, including the members of the Mock Trial team, which I am a part of, we heard two cases being argued in front of the court.
The first oral arguments we heard were for the case of Sugarloaf Alliance v. Frederick County. The underlying argument for this case was about attorney fees, and this case will set the precedent for how much money gets awarded in similar cases. I remember hearing this case and being thoroughly impressed with the public speaking abilities of the lawyers involved. They handled all questions thrown at them amazingly and were quick-witted. The second case heard was Andrew Campbell Founds v. State of Maryland. This case heavily relies on the 4th amendment, and it was interesting to hear this be applied to legal standards.
After the conclusion of the oral arguments, there was a Q&A session with the justices. Students from all around Harford County got to ask questions and hear their insightful answers.
They were asked questions about gender and race barriers, decision making, precedent, and bias. It was so interesting to hear them lay out their processes and strategies for approaching cases. It was especially great to hear from Justice Angela Eaves, who served as a judge in Harford County for many years. I am so grateful for the opportunity to see a live Supreme Court hearing, and I will use what I learned to help expand my understanding of the legal system.
