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The Connecticut Appellate Court
will travel to Western Connecticut State University in Danbury
on Thursday, Oct. 28, 2004, to hear three oral arguments in
three cases – two criminal and one civil.
Judge Thomas G. West, an alumnus of WestConn, will be
presiding judge.
Judge Alexandra D. DiPentima and
Judge C. Ian McLachlan
will serve on the panel with Judge West.
The Appellate Court’s
appearance at WestConn is part of an ongoing educational
initiative of the Connecticut Judicial Branch to acquaint
students, educators and the general public with the role and
responsibilities of the appellate court process.
The Appellate Court first "went
on the road" in 1996, when it visited Quinnipiac University
School of Law. Since then, it also has held court sessions at
Waterford High School, Fairfield University and Litchfield
High School.
"Feedback from previous visits
has always been positive," the
Honorable William J. Lavery,
chief judge of the Appellate Court, said. "The students learn
from the experience, and the judges enjoy the chance to
educate them about our appellate process. We anticipate that
the trip to WestConn will be another success story."
"This represents a wonderful
opportunity for our students, faculty and members of the
community to observe firsthand the intricacies of the
appellate process," said WestConn President James W. Schmotter.
"It’s a fundamental part of our judicial system that’s
unfamiliar to most people. The chance to watch the court at
work on real cases with an opportunity to ask questions of
attorneys afterward will provide valuable insights to those
who attend."
The arguments will occur in the
Ives Concert Hall in White Hall, on the university’s Midtown
campus, 181 White St., Danbury. The first case,
State v. Fasano,
will start at 10 a.m. and end at 10:40; the second,
Raudat v. Leary,
will start at 11:15 a.m. and end at 11:55; and the third,
State v. DiPaolo,
will start at 1:30 p.m. and end at 2:10.
The following items may not be
brought into the concert hall: cellular telephones, pagers,
radios, cassette players, CD players, DVD players,
televisions, recording devices, cameras, video equipment, boom
boxes, bladed or pointed items, weapons, and food and
beverages. To help the screening process, it is recommended
that guests not bring briefcases, backpacks, pocketbooks or
bags. The event is open to the public.
After each session, lawyers
involved in the cases will discuss their objectives and
strategies with the students. Lawyers from the Danbury area
will moderate the question-and-answer sessions. News
organizations will be permitted to record, broadcast, televise
and photograph these question-and-answer periods.
Dr. Harold Schramm, professor
of justice and law administration, and Dr. Michael Foley,
associate professor of justice and law administration,
coordinated the event for WestConn.
For further information, please
contact Rhonda Stearley-Hebert, manager of communications,
Connecticut Judicial Branch, at 860-757-2270. |
