Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--Some Mississippi State students will have a firsthand opportunity to learn more about the judicial system when the Mississippi Court of Appeals hears two cases Nov. 14 on the university campus.
Composed of 10 judges, the appeals court hears civil and criminal arguments in cases referred by the state Supreme Court. Oral arguments are heard six times each year by a three-judge appeals court panel.
Campus proceedings will get under way at 9:45 a.m. in the Parker Ballroom of the Hunter Henry Center. MSU's Pre-Law Society is sponsoring the event.
"We invited the court to hear cases on our campus to introduce our students to the judicial process," said society adviser Diane E. Wall. The court will be making its first-ever public appearance on the Starkville campus, she added.
The associate professor of political science and public administration said interested members of the public also may attend the proceedings. But, she warned, visitors and students must be prepared to stay awhile.
"Once arguments are under way, the doors are closed and no one may enter or leave until the process is concluded," Wall explained
Joining the Pre-Law Society and department of political science and public administration as co-sponsors are MSU's communication department, College of Arts and Sciences, Holmes Cultural Diversity Center, Stennis Institute of Government, and Starkville's John C. Stennis Center for Public Service.
Hearing the cases at MSU will be Chief Judge Leslie King and justices Donna M. Barnes and David Ishee.
King, a native of Greenville, is a graduate of Texas Southern University School of Law and former member of the Mississippi Legislature. Both University of Mississippi School of Law graduates, Tupelo resident Donna M. Barnes and Gulfport resident David Ishee were appointed by Gov. Haley Barbour following years in private practice.
During the Nov. 14 arguments, a civil appeal will be heard at
"The civil case will be argued by Tupelo attorneys George E. Dent and Michael L. Dulaney, while the criminal case, a murder appeal, will be presented by Starkville attorney Pearson Liddell and state attorney Jacob Ray," Wall said.
Following the conclusion of arguments, the judges will take questions--though none specific to the docket cases--from attending students.
"This will be a very special opportunity for Mississippi State students and members of the local community to see this important branch of the state judicial system at work," Wall said. "We are deeply grateful to Judges King, Barnes, Ishee, and others with the appeals court for making it possible."
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information, telephone Dr. Wall at 662-325-7864.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.