The Supreme Court of Texas, the highest court in the state, heard oral arguments at The University of Texas at Tyler’s University Center on Thursday morning, then toned down the formalities by eating with the high school and college students attending.

The court considers cases outside of Austin twice each year, last visiting Tyler in 2003.

“It’s an opportunity for other parts of the state to be exposed to something like this,” said Tyler attorney Jim Huggler, president of the Smith County Bar Foundation, which arranged the event. “There are very few people involved in the legal process who understand what appellate courts do.”

The proceedings began at 9 a.m., when the court heard the case of Boeing Co. and Greater Kelly Development Authority v. Ken Paxton, as Texas Attorney General.

Petitioning attorney Scott A. Brister began with a 20-minute back-and-forth with the justices, claiming military contracting giant Boeing did not have to fulfill a Public Information Act request to release their leasing agreement with the state for Kelly Air Force Base in San Antonio, saying it would give competitors an unfair advantage in future contract bidding. He pointed to one of 60 exceptions to the act, claiming the information was exempt from public inquiry.

Respondent attorney Richard B. Ferrer stood an equal amount of time, arguing the court ought to prefer a wider interpretation, lending itself to more free information on where public tax dollars are spent. Brister stood another five minutes, and the oral arguments for the case concluded.

Next on the agenda was the personal-injury case of JLG Trucking LLC v. Lauren R. Garza, a rarity at such a high level. Petitioning attorney David M. Gunn claimed that following an accident involving a truck driver and 18-year-old Ms. Garza, the trial judge wrongly sustained a motion to forbid any mention of a second accident involving Ms. Garza some years later, lest it prejudice the jury.

Gunn held that many of Ms. Garza’s injuries were from the second wreck, and the company was not liable for those. Attorney for the respondent Lisa Bowlin Hobbes held that admission of evidence from the second wreck was irrelevant, that the facts of the first matter were the only considerations, and that her worst injuries were from the first wreck. Gunn responded another five minutes, and the oral arguments were finished.

Law professor Brian Garner led a question-and-answer session with the court, with topics including the operations of the court, its jurisdiction and its selection of cases.

This being finished, approximately a third of the over 300 present ate boxed sandwiches and chips with many local, appellate, and state judges.

“Having people learn about the complexities of the court is always a good thing,” Huggler said. “The Foundation was formed to help educate students about the legal system.”