Youth gets to experience state high court

Anthony Wright of Kalispell had an opportunity to not only glimpse the inner workings of the state Supreme Court, but become part of it at the American Legion of Montana Boys State.

Wright, an outgoing junior at Flathead High School, was among six other participants elected to sit on the Montana Supreme Court as associate justices.

“He sat in the actual supreme court and heard a case selected from an actual case that happened in Montana,” said American Legion Montana Boys State Director Mike Hedegaard. “They did a robing ceremony and two associate justices came and talked to the boys for an hour.”

High school juniors are selected by their local American Legion posts to attend. A statewide primary followed by a general election are held to elect candidates to a variety of offices.

Other participants were elected in roles in the Supreme Court, House and Senate up to governor.

“It’s a leadership opportunity and a chance to teach them how their government works,” Hedegaard said.

Participants traveled to Helena for the weeklong event June 7 through June 12.

Delegates from Billings and Florence will represent Montana later this year at Boys Nation in Washington D.C.

There are many past and present state politicians who were delegates for either Boys State or Boys Nation, or both, Hedegaard said such as Gov. Steve Bullock, Attorney General Tim Fox and U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, R-Mont.

Reporter Hilary Matheson may be reached at 758-4431 or by email at hmatheson@hotmail.com.