What: The Colorado Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in two court cases before an audience of high school students at Overland High School in Aurora, Colo. as part of the Colorado Judicial Department’s Courts in the Community outreach program. Courts in the Community is an educational program that gives high school students a firsthand look at how the Colorado judicial system operates and how disputes are resolved in our democratic society.
When: Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026, 9 a.m. to noon
Where: Overland High School, 12400 E. Jewel Ave, Aurora, Colo.
Who: Members of the media are invited to attend. RSVP to Susan Postema Scheeres at susan.postemascheeres@judicial.state.co.us; she will be attending the event and can direct you to students who have parent or guardian approval to be photographed or interviewed.
No videography is allowed. All requests to photograph oral arguments must be submitted through an EMC no later than 24 hours before the event, per Colorado Supreme Court Rule 3. The EMC can be found on online: https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/media/request-expanded-media-coverage?topic=76&wrapped=true
Any members of the media will need to check in at the main entrance with an I.D.
Background:
- The Colorado Supreme Court and Court of Appeals started the program on Law Day (May 1) in 1986.
- In the 40 years since, the program has given an estimated 50,000 students and teachers from every Colorado judicial district a firsthand look at how the state’s judicial system operates and how disputes are resolved in our democratic society.
- These are not mock proceedings. The court will hear arguments in actual cases from which it will issue opinions.
- The seven justices of the Colorado Supreme Court will hear oral arguments: Chief Justice Monica M. Márquez, Justice Brian D. Boatright, Justice William W. Hood III, Justice Richard L. Gabriel, Justice Carlos A. Samour, Justice Maria E. Berkenkotter, and Justice Susan Blanco.
- Teachers from Overland High School and Cherry Creek Pathways have been preparing their students to hear oral arguments, using a curriculum designed by the Colorado Judicial Department that provides background information about the judicial system and information about the cases that will be presented. The Criminal Justice and Law Pathway involves students from all six high schools in the Cherry Creek School District. This is a year-long program where students study criminal and civil law, constitutional rights, the role of judges, lawyers and legal professionals, and more
Two cases will be heard at Overland High School:
- 25SC433, Spectrum Retirement Communities v. Continental Casualty Co.
This case arose out of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of government restrictions imposed to mitigate the pandemic, retirement communities like those owned by Spectrum were required to limit access to their common areas, including dining areas, and were not allowed to rent vacant units to new residents. Spectrum suffered financial losses as a result and filed a claim with their insurance provider, Continental, pursuant to their "all-risk" policy. Spectrum believed that the policy covered not only the physical properties, but also business interruptions caused by physical losses or damage. While some insurance policies specifically state that they will not cover losses caused by viruses, the policy that Spectrum purchased did not include that language. Continental denied the claim and Spectrum sued Continental. The case was dismissed by the trial court which concluded that Spectrum could not show a covered loss. A division of the Court of Appeals agreed. Spectrum sought review in the Colorado Supreme Court.
After Ruiz allegedly stole a car, the People charged him with first-degree motor vehicle theft. Under that statute, a person commits a felony if they take somebody else’s car and they know “or reasonably should have known” that they lacked authorization to do so. Ruiz filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that this statute violates due process because it permits a criminal conviction based on what a hypothetical person might have known, rather than the defendant’s actual state of mind. Although the trial court didn’t dismiss Ruiz’s case, it did agree with him that the “reasonably should have known” language is unconstitutional, so it required the jury to find that he actually had such knowledge. The People now appeal the trial court’s ruling to the Colorado Supreme Court.
Students will be able to ask the attorneys and the justices questions after oral arguments. For more information about the cases, visit our website: https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/courts-community/events
