The Nebraska Court of Appeals will be in session at Nebraska Wesleyan University on Thursday, September 12.
“This experience will provide Nebraska Wesleyan University students and area high school students with a fine opportunity to witness the judicial process firsthand,” said Fred Ohles, president of Nebraska Wesleyan University.
The Court of Appeals will hear several cases during morning and afternoon sessions. A question and answer session with the judges will follow each session.
This marks the second time the Nebraska Court of Appeals has convened on a college campus. The college campus initiative, designed by judges of the Court of Appeals, is intended to provide Nebraskans the opportunity to learn about the judicial branch. The Court of Appeals of Nebraska is the state’s second-highest court and reviews appeals from state trial court decisions. A decision of the Nebraska Court of Appeals is final unless granted further review by the Nebraska Supreme Court.
Sessions will be held at 9 a.m. and again at 1:30 p.m. in O’Donnell Auditorium, located at 50th Street and Huntington Ave. High school teachers and students who are interested in attending should contact the Nebraska Wesleyan Admissions Office at admissions [at] nebrwesleyan.edu (admissions[at]nebrwesleyan[dot]edu) or call 800.541.3818 ext. 2218. A campus tour will be provided to interested students from 12:15-1p.m. beginning on the front steps of the Smith-Curtis Administration Building.
“We look forward to visiting Nebraska Wesleyan’s campus and sharing our work directly with the students,” said Chief Judge Everett O. Inbody. “The invitation to hold our court sessions at the college provides us with a unique opportunity for community outreach targeting an age group that is not generally found in our court audience.”
For those who plan to attend, please note the following restrictions:
Security
When oral arguments are scheduled, admittance to O'Donnell Auditorium is permitted only upon compliance with security requirements. Before entering O’Donnell Auditorium, guests are required to walk through a metal detecting device. It is highly recommended that attendees not bring backpacks, purses and other personal items.
Entering and Exiting the Courtroom
Entry and exit are limited to before and after the court session, when a recess is taken by the court, and between cases when attorneys are changing places. The morning session begins promptly at 9:30 a.m. Each case will last 20 minutes with two minutes in between each case to allow attendees to enter and exit. The afternoon session begins promptly at 1:30 p.m.
Restrictions
Under no circumstances is food or drink to be taken into O’Donnell Auditorium. Hats and caps must be removed. Except for assigned oral arguments, silence shall be maintained at all times during the court session. No photographs or recordings of court proceedings are allowed except as provided by Supreme Court Rule 17. All cell phones and pagers must be turned off.