Students from four Knox County High Schools will get a first-hand look at the judicial system Nov.15 as participants in a state Court of Appeals program designed to educate young Tennesseans about the appellate process.
The 150 students and their teachers will attend oral argument in four actual cases being heard by Eastern Section Court of Appeals Judges Houston M. Goddard of Maryville, Charles D. Susano, Jr., and D. Michael Swiney, both of Knoxville. The half-day session at Fulton County High School is part of the court’s CASE Project. CASE is an acronym for Court of Appeals Affecting Student Education.
Austin East High School, West High School, Central High School and Fulton High School selected the participating students. The students will hear argument in all four cases. Cases students will hear involve medical malpractice; the Consumer Protection Act, refusal of a city to issue a beer permit and a negligence claim by an accident victim who was injured by a co-worker.
“It is important to educate students about the court system and how it affects the lives of all citizens,” Swiney said. “CASE is the court’s effort to play a role in preparing these students to become well-informed adults. We believe that seeing for themselves how the system works is a valuable supplement to their studies in the classroom. This is the second CASE Project we have conducted and we are committed to do others in the future.”
The Court of Appeals is one of three appellate courts in Tennessee. The 12 Court of Appeals judges statewide, sitting in panels of three, hear appeals from trial courts in civil, or non-criminal cases. The 12-member Court of Criminal Appeals, also sitting in panels, hears appeals in criminal cases and the five-member state Supreme Court sits together to hear appeals in civil and criminal cases.
As part of the CASE Project, law clerks who work for the appellate judges will go into classrooms the week before oral argument to brief students about the appellate process and the cases they will be hearing. The week after court, the law clerks will return to the schools to debrief the students and answer questions. When the cases are decided by the court, copies of the written opinions will be furnished to the students.
Immediately following the court session, which begins at 9 a.m., students and teachers will join the lawyers and court for lunch, sponsored by Knoxville City Council.