{"id":20700,"date":"2026-10-22T14:47:02","date_gmt":"2026-10-22T18:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/?p=20700"},"modified":"2026-10-22T14:47:02","modified_gmt":"2026-10-22T18:47:02","slug":"wilmington-university-school-law-hosts-delaware-supreme-court-live-oral-arguments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2026\/10\/22\/wilmington-university-school-law-hosts-delaware-supreme-court-live-oral-arguments\/","title":{"rendered":"Wilmington University School of Law Hosts Delaware Supreme Court for Live Oral Arguments"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kadence-column20700_29317a-44 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);}.kadence-column20700_29317a-44 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column20700_29317a-44 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column20700_29317a-44 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column20700_29317a-44 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column20700_29317a-44{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column20700_29317a-44 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column20700_29317a-44 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column20700_29317a-44\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em><sup>Chief Justice<\/sup><\/em><\/strong><em><sup> Collins J. Seitz Jr<\/sup><\/em><strong><em><sup>., Justice <\/sup><\/em><\/strong><em><sup>Karen L. Valihura<\/sup><\/em><strong><em><sup>, and Justice <\/sup><\/em><\/strong><em><sup>N. Christopher Griffiths visited the School of Law. (Justice Valihura is now  istinguished professor of Corporate Law at Farnan School of Law and founding director of Wilmington University\u2019s Corporate Law, Governance<br>and Practice Institute.)&nbsp;<\/sup><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wilmington University <a href=\"https:\/\/law.wilmu.edu\/index.aspx\">Farnan School of Law<\/a> recently welcomed the Delaware Supreme Court to its campus in North Wilmington, where students had the rare opportunity to watch oral arguments in two actual cases. The experience offered a direct view of the appellate process as it unfolded in real time, with real litigants, active legal questions, and immediate stakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chief Justice <strong>Collins J. Seitz Jr<\/strong>., Justice <strong>Karen L. Valihura<\/strong>, and Justice <strong>N. Christopher Griffiths<\/strong> visited the School of Law to hear the cases, and students had the opportunity to take part in question-and-answer sessions&nbsp; each case. Students from Concord High School, The Islamic Academy of Delaware High School, Nativity Preparatory School of Wilmington, and Serviam&nbsp;Girls Academy Middle School joined Wilmington University law students for the visit. Some watched in the state-of-the-art moot courtroom, chosen from a highly competitive lottery, while middle school and high school students viewed a livestream from various on-campus spaces.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The experience gave students a close look at appellate advocacy in practice, highlighting the preparation, precision, and legal reasoning that shape each argument. The justices\u2019 and attorneys\u2019 conversations with students added another layer to the experience, offering insight into the law, the courts, and the legal profession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt was a privilege to welcome Chief Justice Seitz, Justice Valihura, and Justice Griffiths to campus, and we are deeply grateful for the time, care, and generosity they offered our students,\u201d says School of Law Dean <strong>Jan Jurden<\/strong>. \u201cTheir presence on our campus, their willingness to hear actual cases here, and the insight they shared gave our students a rare chance to see the law in practice.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"369\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/live-court-proceedings-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-20706\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/live-court-proceedings-2.jpg 750w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/live-court-proceedings-2-250x123.jpg 250w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dean Jurden\u2019s gratitude for the visit was clear. So was her admiration for the law students. \u201cI was proud of all of them,\u201d she says. \u201cTheir questions reflected intellectual curiosity, depth, their academic experiences, and the positive influence of their professors. Most rewarding was the fact that the justices seemed to recognize their level of engagement and responded with compassion and respect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Through the same lottery, 10 law students also had the opportunity to gather in an intimate setting to enjoy lunch with Justices Valihura and Griffiths, Dean Jurden, and Wilmington University President <strong>Dr. LaVerne Harmon<\/strong>. Around the table, students posed personal questions and spoke candidly about what they had witnessed. The justices met that openness with candor of their own, reflecting on the challenges young attorneys often face, including stress, difficult colleagues or clients, and the search for purpose in the profession. Drawing on lessons from their early years in the law, they spoke about the importance of collegiality, the discipline of self-care, and the need to make time for family and the people who sustain us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For WilmU law students <strong>Eric Kalet<\/strong> and <strong>Madeline Evarts<\/strong>, the day offered a firsthand look at appellate advocacy. \u201cObserving oral argument before the Delaware Supreme Court was an exceptional learning experience,\u201d says Kalet. \u201cIt reinforced the importance of preparation, precision, and command of the record. Seeing the justices examine issues such as statutory interpretation, standards of review, and precedent brought our classroom discussions to life and showed how legal theory shapes real-world outcomes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Evarts agrees. \u201cWatching Delaware Supreme Court oral arguments at Wilmington University School of Law and joining several of the justices for lunch was inspiring and insightful,\u201d she says. \u201cSeeing advocacy at that level and hearing the justices speak candidly about the legal field made the study of law feel immediate and real.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s one thing to study law in the classroom, \u201cand another to see it come alive right on campus,\u201d Evarts adds. \u201cI\u2019m incredibly thankful for opportunities like these that make legal education so dynamic.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u2014Maria Hess<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em><sup>Photos by Sean O\u2019Sullivan, Chief of Community Relations for the Delaware Judiciary<\/sup><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98{margin-top:0em;}.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:center;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:center;}.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );max-width:var( --global-content-width, 1290px );padding-left:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-right:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-top:0em;padding-right:0em;padding-bottom:0em;padding-left:0em;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}.wu-text-col,.wu-img-col {\tmin-height: 114px;}.wu-text-col &gt; div,.wu-img-col &gt; div {\tflex: 1;}<\/style><div class=\"kb-row-layout-wrap kb-row-layout-id18054_2a03df-98 alignnone FULL wp-block-kadence-rowlayout\"><div class=\"kt-row-column-wrap kt-has-2-columns kt-row-layout-right-golden kt-tab-layout-inherit kt-mobile-layout-row kt-row-valign-middle kb-theme-content-width\">\n<style>.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:var(--global-palette9, #ffffff);}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}.kadence-column18054_056c48-40 figure.image-is-svg {-webkit-margin-after: 1em;  margin-block-end: 1em;}img[src$=\".svg\"] {  max-width: 220px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18054_056c48-40 kb-section-dir-horizontal wu-img-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image18054_2c3578-23.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image18054_2c3578-23 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:273px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image18054_2c3578-23.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image18054_2c3578-23 .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image18054_2c3578-23{max-width:273px;}.image-is-svg.kb-image18054_2c3578-23{-webkit-flex:0 1 100%;flex:0 1 100%;}.image-is-svg.kb-image18054_2c3578-23 img{width:100%;}.kb-image18054_2c3578-23:not(.kb-image-is-ratio-size) .kb-img, .kb-image18054_2c3578-23.kb-image-is-ratio-size{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-image18054_2c3578-23 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image18054_2c3578-23 size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"750\" height=\"225\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/WU-Logo_L-Web_FullColor-750x225.png\" alt=\"Wilmington University Logo\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-20626\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/WU-Logo_L-Web_FullColor-750x225.png 750w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/WU-Logo_L-Web_FullColor-250x75.png 250w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/WU-Logo_L-Web_FullColor-768x230.png 768w, https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/WU-Logo_L-Web_FullColor.png 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .wp-block-kadence-advancedgallery{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18054_182255-65{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18054_182255-65{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#eeeeee;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18054_182255-65{align-self:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18054_182255-65{align-self:auto;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column18054_182255-65{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18054_182255-65{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}.kt-row-column-wrap &gt; .wp-block-kadence-column {align-self: stretch;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 &gt; div {  padding-block: 1em;}.kadence-column18054_182255-65 p:last-of-type {  -webkit-margin-after: 0;  margin-block-end: 0;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column18054_182255-65 kb-section-dir-vertical wu-text-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p class=\"NoMargin wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:1rem\"><em>Want to read more in-depth stories? Explore our latest <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/category\/magazine\/\">magazine articles<\/a>. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Chief Justice Collins J. Seitz Jr., Justice Karen L. Valihura, and Justice N. Christopher Griffiths visited the School of Law. (Justice Valihura is now istinguished&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":20701,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[135],"tags":[1083,1090,14,15],"class_list":["post-20700","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-magazine","tag-farnan-school-of-law","tag-magazine-fall-2026","tag-wilmington-university","tag-wilmu"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":135,"label":"MAGAZINE"}],"post_tag":[{"value":1083,"label":"Farnan School of Law"},{"value":1090,"label":"Magazine Fall 2026"},{"value":14,"label":"Wilmington University"},{"value":15,"label":"WilmU"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/live-court-proceedings-480x480.jpg",480,480,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Rachel Marchione","author_link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/author\/rachel\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":135,"name":"MAGAZINE","slug":"magazine","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":692,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":457,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":135,"category_count":457,"category_description":"","cat_name":"MAGAZINE","category_nicename":"magazine","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":1083,"name":"Farnan School of Law","slug":"farnan-school-of-law","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1640,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":11,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":1090,"name":"Magazine Fall 2026","slug":"magazine-fall-2026","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1647,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":25,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":14,"name":"Wilmington University","slug":"wilmington-university","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":571,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":423,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":15,"name":"WilmU","slug":"wilmu","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":572,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":357,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20700","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20700"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20700\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20707,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20700\/revisions\/20707"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20701"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20700"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20700"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20700"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}