The Maryland Supreme Court convened Wednesday at a Baltimore high school for the first time, hearing arguments regarding the safety of young athletes and an assault case appeal.

The educational event brought the court to the former Northwestern High School, the temporary site of Frederick Douglass High School during renovations. Wednesday was the 57th anniversary of the day when Thurgood Marshall, a Frederick Douglass High alum, became a justice on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Terri Charles, a Maryland Courts spokesperson, said the school was chosen “due to its historic significance as the first school in Maryland to provide a high school education to African American students,” adding that it’s produced alumni who have been leaders in law, government, business and entertainment.

“It was an amazing event for the kids and the school,” Frederick Douglass High Principal Dave Verdi told The Baltimore Sun. “The hope is that they get to see this and will take the actions they need not just if they want to get into law but for anything they want to do.”

The court heard arguments in two cases. Homer Walton v. Premier Soccer Club, Inc., et al. focuses on a 14-year-old player who suffered a concussion during practice when she hit her head on the wall surrounding an indoor soccer field.

The girl’s family sued the team, the coach, two team members’ parents and certain employees of Baltimore County, which operated the indoor soccer field, for negligence, saying the club allowed the practice to take place on an inadequately lit field.

The second case involves a man who was convicted of two counts of first-degree assault, one count of second-degree assault and one count of use of a firearm in the commission of a crime of violence.

He’d been sentenced to 20 years with all but 11 suspended. His legal team appealed, questioning whether his right to a public trial was violated because his mother was prevented from entering the courtroom.

Attorneys in neither case could be reached for comment.

After arguments were heard, justices answered about 15 to 20 questions from students on topics such as judicial procedure, justices’ paths to the bench and educational advice for aspiring attorneys, Verdi said.

“There was thoughtful questioning,” Verdi said. “Throughout the whole thing, it was nice to see students with a high level of engagement over such a long period.”

There were about 600 to 700 students from 15 Baltimore City Public Schools, private schools and universities in attendance.

The event marks the third time in recent history that the state Supreme Court has held oral arguments outside Annapolis and the first in Baltimore, according to a news release. The court plans to holds oral arguments at secondary or post-secondary educational institutions twice per term at locations throughout Maryland.

“Holding oral arguments in the community, especially in schools, is an important part of the Maryland Judiciary’s community outreach efforts, which help further public understanding of the work of the courts,” said Chief Justice Matthew J. Fader in the release. “Holding arguments outside of Annapolis provides an opportunity to bring civic education directly to students, teachers, and the local community, and to give the members of the Court the opportunity to meet and engage with the students.”

The Appellate Court of Maryland also regularly hosts oral arguments outside the state capital, meeting at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in the fall and the University of Baltimore School of Law in the spring.