Orangeburg County School District (OCSD) students are invited to witness S.C. Supreme Court oral arguments on Tuesday, November 15, and Wednesday, November 16. The oral arguments will be held in the Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center on the campus of SC State University, beginning at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. each day. 

"To me, this is education at its best! The opportunity for our students to observe the proceedings of the oral arguments brings to life their classroom learning experiences," said Hayward Jean, OCSD Director of Student Services. The court cases that will be heard are listed on the Supreme Court’s Roster of Cases; and after the oral arguments, the Court will take time to answer questions from students. 

All OCSD middle and high schools will be represented during the oral arguments. Mr. Robert Hemby, OCSD’s Coordinator of Career and Technical Education & K-12 School Improvement, along with Mr. Jean coordinated this opportunity for OCSD students and said, “this experience gives our students the chance and exposure of seeing our Judicial System operate at the highest level.”

Students who attend the proceedings will have an opportunity to see Chief Justice Donald Beaty, an alumna of SC State University. "Being able to allow our students to witness oral arguments from the highest court in the state of South Carolina is an example of the real-world experiences that we aim to provide our students in OCSD," said Dr. Shawn Foster, OCSD Superintendent. "Also, it is important to me to ensure that our students are exposed to various careers as well as make certain that they know that their dreams and aspirations are limitless," he continued.