Administrative Office of Courts
Court of Appeals to convene at William Carey University April 25 The Mississippi Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments on the campus of William Carey University at 11 a.m. April 25. A three-judge panel of the court will convene at the Smith Auditorium in Thomas Fine Arts Center on the Hattiesburg campus. Judges will hear an appeal of an armed robbery conviction from Tunica County. The Court of Appeals periodically schedules oral arguments on college campuses and occasionally at other locations as a teaching tool for students. The Court of Appeals began the Court on the Road program as a part of its regular calendar for oral arguments in 2005. It is the court’s first time to convene on the William Carey University campus. The court will also convene at the University of Mississippi School of Law on April 23 to hear two cases. The court hears arguments each spring at the University of Mississippi. Court of Appeals Chief Judge Joe Lee said the program gives students interested in careers in law an opportunity to watch an appellate court proceeding. It also helps acquaint the public with the workings of the appellate court. “It provides an opportunity for people to see what we do,” Judge Lee said. Judges will answer questions from students after the oral arguments, but will not talk about the case. Court of Appeals law clerks also will talk to students about their work, the operation of the courts, and the education required to become a lawyer. The oral arguments to be heard April 25 on the William Carey University campus are in the appeal of Christopher Jackson v. State of Mississippi, Case. No. 2012-KA-0792. Jackson was convicted by a Tunica County Circuit Court jury on April 24, 2012, on charges of armed robbery. Testimony showed that Jackson and two other men robbed a police informant who was attempting to buy drugs while under police surveillance on Nov. 10, 2010. Circuit Judge Charles E. Webster sentenced Jackson to 20 years in prison, with five years suspended. Attorney George T. Holmes of the Indigent Appeals Division of the Office of State Public Defender represents Jackson. Special Assistant Attorney General Laura H. Tedder represents the Attorney General’s office. People wishing to watch the oral arguments are asked to be in their seats 15 minutes before the arguments are scheduled to begin. The oral argument is expected to last approximately an hour. The appellant and appellee are each allowed 30 minutes to present arguments. The oral arguments 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 arguments must file a Camera Coverage Notice at least 48 hours prior to the commencement of the proceedings. Camera Coverage Notices should be directed to Clerk of the Court Kathy Gillis, fax 601-359-2407, and to Assistant Court Administrator Katie Cassady, fax 601-576-4708. The Camera Coverage Notice form is at Click Here. Photographers and videographers should be familiar with and follow the Rules for Electronic and Photographic Coverage of Judicial Proceedings. The camera coverage rules are available on the Mississippi Judiciary web site at Click Here. #### |
