27 January 2015
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, to sit at William Jewell College, Liberty, Missouri
KANSAS CITY, Mo -- For the fifth consecutive year, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District will convene court at William Jewell College, Chief Judge Alok Ahuja announced today. On Wednesday, January 28, 2015, the Court will hear oral arguments in Room 221 of the Yates-Gill College Union beginning at 9:30 a.m.
A three-judge panel consisting of Western District judges Cindy Martin and Gary Witt and Supreme Court of Missouri Judge Zel M. Fischer will sit on the four cases on the docket. Martin will serve as presiding judge. All three judges are William Jewell graduates. In addition, Fischer teaches a course -- American Jurisprudence -- at William Jewell during the fall semester.
Ahuja explained that the cases are appeals from previously held trials in area circuit courts. The judges will hear attorneys argue whether the trials had errors, which should cause them to be retried or the trial court's judgment reversed, he said. The judges will read written arguments before the court session, he added, and may interrupt the attorneys' arguments with questions.
The judges will take a break between cases to answer questions about the court system in Missouri, especially the appellate courts.
Although the Court convenes regularly at its courthouse in downtown Kansas City, it also convenes frequently in other locations within the Western District. In the last 22 years, the court has held sessions in Chillicothe, Clinton, Columbia, Gallatin, Huntsville, Independence, Jefferson City, Keytesville, Kirksville, Lexington, Liberty, Linneus, Macon, Marshall, Maryville, Milan, Nevada, Platte City, Richmond, Rockport, St. Joseph, Savannah, Trenton, Tuscumbia and Warrensburg. The Western District consists of 45 counties in central and western Missouri.
"It is important for the Court to convene oral arguments outside of Kansas City," Martin said. "This gives individuals an opportunity to observe a part of the judicial system they normally do not see. We hope those attending will gain a better understanding of the Court's function."
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Contact: Terence G. Lord, clerk of court
Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District
(816) 889-3600
tlord@courts.mo.gov