Sources: Daralyn Gordon Arata, 785-532-6904, darata@k-state.edu;
And Heather Reed, 785-532-6432, hreed@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Stephanie Jacques, 785-532-3452, sjacques@k-state.edu
Friday, Sept. 14, 2012
Kansas Court of Appeals brings the courtroom to campus
MANHATTAN -- The Kansas Court of Appeals will be hearing a full docket of cases on the Kansas State University campus starting a 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, in Forum Hall at the K-State Student Union as part of U.S. Constitution Observance Day. The court hearings are free and open to the public.
As a federally funded educational institution, Kansas State University celebrates Constitution Observance Day -- Sept. 17 -- every year with a series of educational events.
"We have been very fortunate the last few years to have the Kansas Court of Appeals help us celebrate the signing of the U.S. Constitution by coming to campus so students can have the opportunity to see a court in action," said Daralyn Gordon Arata, pre-law adviser.
The Kansas Court of Appeals is an appellate court, which is the state's first level of appeal. No witnesses will be called and discussion is based on the record from the trial court and the attorney's arguments presented to a panel of three judges, Arata said.
"Discussions will be about issues that students should be aware of," Arata said. "So even though it is the appeals level of the court system rather than the initial trial, the issues are very relevant issues for students."
Topics to be discussed in the cases will range from driving under the influence and the right to a speedy trial to aggravated indecent liberties with a child and excessive punishments. The court cases to be heard are State of Kansas v. Samuel Quakenbush, State of Kansas v. Kevin Frost, State of Kansas v. Casey Coleman and State of Kansas v. Lisa C. Williams.
Constitution Day activities will begin on Sept. 18 as the university's Pre-law Club hosts a reception for students to meet with the Kansas Court of Appeals judges at 3:30 p.m. In the Union's Little Theater followed by the Riley County Bar Association's reception with the judges at 5:30 p.m. At the Manhattan Country Club.
The judges will speak to university classes and meet with the Mock Trial Team on Sept. 19 prior to their docket. The celebration will conclude at 7 p.m. In the Alumni Center Ballroom with the Dorothy L. Thompson Lecture Series presentation, "Affirmative Action at the Crossroads: The Uncertain Future of Race-Conscious College Admissions," by Steven Ramirez, professor of law at Loyola University of Chicago Law School.
