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Connecticut Appellate Court To Hear Cases At Kent School
The Connecticut Appellate Court will travel to Kent School on Monday,
May 18, 2009, to hear arguments in two criminal cases. The arguments will
be heard in the Science Lecture Hall, at 1 Macedonia Road, Kent.
The Court’s visit is part of an ongoing
educational initiative of the Connecticut Judicial Branch to acquaint
students, educators and the public with the role and responsibilities of the
court process. In addition to students from Kent School, students will also
be attending from Housatonic Valley Regional High School. Both arguments
are open to the public. “The Appellate Court’s visit to Kent School
will better acquaint students from Kent and the Housatonic Valley Regional
High School with the appellate process.”
Chief Judge Joseph P. Flynn said.
The arguments will start at 9:30 a.m. in
State v. Branden Holloway. The second case,
State v. Jasmine Bereis,
will begin at 10:45 a.m. Arguments in each case will last approximately 40
minutes. The lawyers in these cases have agreed to participate in
question-and-answer periods following each case. Appellate Court
Judge
Alexandra D. DiPentima will preside over the three-judge panel. She will be
joined on the bench by Appellate Court
Judge Douglas S. Lavine and Judge
Trial Referee Thomas G. West. The panel will hear the cases but will not
participate in the question-and-answer sessions.
Judge DiPentima said, “The judges are
looking forward to holding an appellate session on the banks of the
Housatonic River. These ‘on the road’ sessions provide opportunities to
students and others to learn about the appellate process and our system of
justice. We are grateful for Kent School's invitation and
along with that, the work of the faculty and staff at both schools, the
lawyers who volunteer to assist in instructing the students and the entire
judicial staff. It is a particular privilege for me as a Kent native and
Kent School graduate to sit on this
panel.”Richardson W. Schell, headmaster and rector at Kent School,
said the Court’s visit is an innovative step and a great experience for the
school. “Kent School welcomes the Connecticut Appellate Court’s educational
outreach to young people here in Litchfield County. First-hand experience of
the Court and discussion with members of the bar before and after the
proceedings will enrich their studies in American history, U.S. government
and constitutional law. Such education is the very foundation of good
citizenship."
Volunteer lawyers met with students in the
days preceding the arguments to provide an overview of the court system and
the cases to be argued. Attorney David Elliott coordinated the pre-argument
orientation at Kent School, and Attorneys J. Michael Sconyers and Judith
Dixon coordinated the pre-argument orientation at Housatonic Valley Regional
High School.News media organizations may record,
broadcast, televise and photograph the oral arguments in compliance with the
rules governing cameras in the Appellate Court and the Court’s protocol,
which is available on the Judicial Branch’s website at
www.jud.ct.gov. Note that the protocol requires media outlets to make
pooling arrangements among themselves if there are multiple requests to
videotape, broadcast, televise, record or photograph the same argument. For
information, contact Jim Senich, manager of communications, at 860-757-2270,
by Thursday, May 14. Pooling is not required for the question-and-answer
periods.
The following items may not be brought into
the courtroom: bladed or pointed items, weapons, food and beverages. To
facilitate the screening process, it is recommended that guests not bring
briefcases, backpacks, pocketbooks or bags.
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