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Court of Appeals convenes at MSU later this month |
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Saturday, 07 November 2009 |
The Mississippi Court of Appeals will convene on the Mississippi State University campus later this month and hear two cases – one originating from Starkville.
Oral arguments are scheduled Nov. 19 for 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. at the Hunter Henry Center. Spectators should plan to arrive early and be seated before 1:30 p.m.
The Court will hear arguments at 1:30 p.m. in the civil appeal of Charles T. Scarborough v. Mildred P. Rollins, case number 2008-CA-01579 COA. The case is a boundary line dispute involving property in Starkville. Scarborough appealed an Aug. 28, 2008, ruling from Oktibbeha County Chancery Court.
Scarborough is represented by attorney Dolton W. McAlpin, and Rollins is represented by attorney Charles Bruce Brown. Both attorneys are from Starkville.
At 2:30 p.m., the Court will hear arguments in the criminal appeal of Brian Keith Martin v. State of Mississippi, case number 2008-KA-01460 COA. Martin, a paraplegic confined to a wheelchair, was convicted of manslaughter in Copiah County Circuit Court in July 2008 and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
John Welch, who according to trial testimony also had partial paralysis, was stabbed March 10, 2008, in the Hazlehurst home he shared with Martin and Martin’s mother.
The Court of Appeals periodically schedules oral arguments on college campuses. The Court on the Road program provides an opportunity for students and the general public to observe an appellate level proceeding and learn about the operations of the court, organizers said in a statement.
This will be the Court of Appeals’ third time to hear oral arguments at Mississippi State University. The Court of Appeals in October heard oral arguments at the University of Southern Mississippi.
The court also convenes periodically at Mississippi College School of Law and the University of Mississippi School of Law.
Court of Appeals Presiding Judge Joe Lee said: “The Court of Appeals conducts proceedings outside of Jackson in an effort to be more accessible to the people. There are limited opportunities for students and the public to see the workings of the Court of Appeals. We spend most of our time behind closed doors reading briefs and writing opinions. We value this opportunity to afford the general public a chance to view the workings of the court.”
Court of Appeals Law Clerk John Grant IV, former president of the MSU Pre-Law Society and a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law, watched Court of Appeals oral arguments earlier this year on the Ole Miss campus.
Grant, of Jackson, said: “One of the primary benefits of the Court on the Road program is that it allows students to see a real appellate case argued without having to leave campus. ... It gives students a unique opportunity to hear from the judges themselves. It allows students to really see whether appellate work is something they are interested in.”
Court of Appeals Law Clerk Christen Kazery said: “It’s definitely beneficial for the students to see this first-hand.”
Kazery, of Jackson, also is a former president of the Mississippi State University Pre-Law Society and a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Law.
Judges usually talk to the students afterwards and answer questions. Judges may talk about the appellate process, but not about the cases themselves.
Kazery said, “The judges are very candid. It’s information that students otherwise wouldn’t have access to.”
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 08 November 2009 )
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