Purdue News
Purdue News
|
|
March 10, 2000 Indiana Court of Appeals to hear arguments at PurdueNOTE TO JOURNALISTS: Journalists who wish to bring cameras, microphones or tape recorders into the courtroom must request permission from the Indiana Court of Appeals at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled start of the oral argument. The request must specify the name and type of news organization, a contact name, phone and fax numbers. Send requests to Victoria Anderson, judicial assistant to Judge Margret G. Robb, (317) 233-3668, fax (317) 233-4627 WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – In an effort to bring the workings of the judicial system closer to the people it serves, the Indiana Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments on a pending case at Purdue University later this month. A three-judge panel of Margret J. Robb, Edward W. Najam Jr. and Sanford M. Brook will hear the case of Rhonda Daugherty vs. Ronald Allen at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, in Room 310, Stewart Center. The event is free and open to the public, but seating is limited to 50 people. Normal courtroom rules of decorum will apply. The case involves an issue of prior restraint in which the Daugherty sought and obtained a preliminary injunction from the Hancock County Circuit Court restraining Allen from speaking on certain matters. Allen has appealed, arguing that such restraint violates the free speech provision of the First Amendment and that restraining speech is inappropriate when the plaintiff has other legal options. Each side will have 30 minutes to argue its case, and the judges may ask questions during the presentations. They then will take the case under advisement and issue an opinion later. Because of the Code of Judicial Conduct, the judges will not be able to answer any specific questions from the audience about the case, but they will respond to general questions about the legal system. The judges will also be available for photographs either before or after the oral arguments. "I think that sometimes people feel the judicial system is too far removed from them," Robb said. "We want to change that impression by bringing our court right into their communities so they have a convenient way to see how this part of the legal system works. It's particularly appropriate to visit schools and universities." The event is sponsored by the Department of Communications in Purdue's School of Liberal Arts. For more information, contact Diana Cable, administrative assistant to the department head, (765) 494-3304, dcable@sla.purdue.edu.
|
