Woodstock — The judicial branch of government can be hard to understand, something that is compounded when court proceedings take place out of view of most people. The Vermont Supreme Court tries to combat that taking the court “On The Road,” each fall, holding sessions at a Superior Court outside Montpelier.

This year, however, the event is leaving the courthouse all together. Instead, the Supreme Court will convene at Woodstock Union High School and Middle School, where the auditorium will be turned into a courtroom for the day on Oct. 12. The justices will hear oral arguments in five Supreme Court cases in front of 400 students and other members of the public in hopes of increasing the visibility of court proceedings.

“It’s incumbent on judges and lawyers to support outreach and education,” Chief Justice Paul Reiber said in a news release. “This will be a live lesson in civics.”

The court is coming to Woodstock High at the suggestion of Supreme Court Justice Harold E. Eaton Jr., who graduated from the school in 1973.

“We would like to thank Woodstock High School for hosting and giving us the opportunity to educate young students on the importance of the judicial branch of government,” Eaton said. “It shouldn’t just be judges and attorneys who understand how it works. It needs to be everybody.”

Woodstock High School Principal Garon Smail said that the day will provide an authentic learning experience that is valuable to students.

“This event offers students an incredible opportunity to witness our law-based society in action and up close,” Smail said.

In addition to the 400 middle and high school students attending the proceedings, Smail has invited students from other area schools. The public is welcome to attend the session. There will be security screening and normal court decorum is expected of everyone observing the proceedings.

Details about the day’s schedule and the cases that will be heard will be released at a later date.