News

Court of Appeals schedules oral argument at Mississippi College School of Law

March 16, 2010

The Mississippi Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments at the Mississippi College School of Law at 10:30 a.m. March 24. A three-judge panel will convene in Room 151 B at the law school at 151 East Griffith Street in Jackson.

The Court of Appeals periodically schedules oral arguments on college campuses and occasionally at other locations as a teaching tool for students. It is known as the Court on the Road program.

Court of Appeals Presiding Judge Joe Lee said, “This is very educational for students as well as the general public who may not otherwise have the opportunity to view the workings of the court. We members of the court likewise benefit because the public gets to see a real world courtroom and real cases, as opposed to television dramas.”

Carlos F. Jackson is appealing his Pike County Circuit Court conviction and 80-year prison sentence on two counts of sexual battery and one count each of aggravated assault, armed robbery and burglary of a dwelling. The incident occurred June 10, 2007. A Pike County jury rejected Jackson’s insanity defense and convicted him on Dec. 14, 2008. The case is 2009-KA-00173-COA, Carlos F. Jackson v. State of Mississippi.

Attorney Daniel Morris of Cleveland represents Jackson. Mississippi College third year law student Charles “Bart” Outzen of Greenville, an intern in the office of the Mississippi Attorney General, will represent the state in arguments supporting the conviction. This will be the second time a Mississippi College School of Law student intern has presented oral arguments before the Court of Appeals.

Mississippi College School of Law Dean Jim Rosenblatt said, “Our law student who presents the case on behalf of the State of Mississippi benefits from the preparation and the opportunity to argue in front of this appellate court. Our students who are observing will see how appellate arguments are conducted and the questioning process used by the judges. Our students also benefit from the question and answer session the judges hold at the end of the argument. MC Law is tremendously supported by the judiciary of Mississippi. We are grateful to be located in the heart of such a helpful and supportive legal community.”

The oral argument is expected to last approximately an hour. The appellant and appellee are each allowed 30 minutes.

The oral argument will not be broadcast via the court’s Internet web site, since the Court of Appeals is convening a special session away from its camera-equipped courtroom.

Any media organization which may wish to photograph or videotape the presentation must follow the Rules for Electronic and Photographic Coverage of Judicial Proceedings. Media must file a Camera Coverage Notice at least 48 hours prior to the commencement of the proceeding. The camera coverage notice is available at courts.ms.gov. The camera coverage rules are available on the Mississippi Supreme Court’s web site at: courts.ms.gov.

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