MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Students at the West Virginia University College of Law were treated with an opportunity to see how the state Supreme Court operates in real time.
Students heard oral arguments on three cases Wednesday in Morgantown.
College of Law Interim Dean Susan Brewer said the annual visit provides a great opportunity for students.
“No matter what area they go into when they go into the practice of law, they’ll have to go to court at some point,” said Brewer. “This is our state’s appellate court, so finding out how the court operates and listening to the questions, it just kind of demystifies the whole process.”
One case argued before the court was an abuse-neglect case. Supreme Court Chief Justice Haley Bunn said that was by design.
“More than 30 percent of the Supreme Court’s docket is abuse and neglect child welfare cases,” Bunn said. “So part of what we wanted to do, by bringing that case here, was hopefully maybe inspire some of the students to get interested in that area of law.”
Honored to host the #WestVirginia Supreme Court this morning at Blaney House as they are hearing cases today @wvulaw and thank them for their service to our state pic.twitter.com/5ENL39YdNT
— Michael T. Benson (@michaeltbenson) April 1, 2026
Bunn said the College of Law visit is a highlight on the Court’s annual schedule.
“We love our visits to the College of Law every year,” said Bunn. “It allows us to continue the really special relationship that the court has with the state’s only law school, and we get to see the newest legal minds, we get to show them the appellate process and hopefully get them excited about it.”