HUNTINGTON, W.Va. –The State Supreme Court of Appeals will reconvene Tuesday on Marshall University’s campus to hear oral arguments in three cases.
This is part of the university’s Court on Campus program, which is presented by the John Deaver Drinko Academy and the Simon Perry Center for Constitutional Democracy.
Approximately 200 high schools’ students from Huntington High School and Cabell Midland High School, along with Marshall students, are anticipated to attend the arguments.
The supreme court will hear arguments for three cases. The first case is State of West Virginia ex rel. Aaron Jimmie Urban v. The Honorable David Hardy, Judge of the Circuit Court of Kanawha County, and the State of West Virginia. This case involves whether a judge at the circuit court level has the authority to issue an order permitting the involuntary medication of a person deemed incompetent to stand trial.
Arguments for that case are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
The second case is Ronald Hardy, et al v. 3M Company, et al. This case involves an appeal and whether the Intermediate Court of Appeals erred in affirming the trial courts order that granted a summary judgement. Arguments for that case is scheduled to begin at 10:40 a.m.
The last case the court will hear is State of West Virginia v. James Carroll Depriest. This case looks at to see if Depriest’s constitutional rights were violated after a judge denied his attorney’s motion for a presentence sentencing report after he fled home confinement and was captured six months later for a felony conviction. Arguments are scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
“As a Marshall Graduate, I am proud to bring the Supreme Court to my alma mater to give our college and high school students a firsthand opportunity to see the judicial branch of government and our legal system in action,” Chief Justice Bill Wooten said.
“It’s one thing to learn about the legal system in a college course or high school social studies class but being able to witness real cases be debated right before you can help students better relate to what they study about in the classroom,” Wooten continued. “Additionally, my fellow justices and I enjoy tremendously the opportunity to interact with students and answer their questions about the judiciary and the important role the rule of law plays in our society. We hope these visits may inspire some of these young students to potentially pursue a career in law or public service.”
After arguments are done, attorneys in the final case, State v. James Carroll Depriest, will take questions from students who attended. The Supreme Court will then conduct a general question-and-answer session with the students.
Arguments and Q&A sessions will take place at the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center.
Individuals who cannot attend but want to watch can go the Supreme Courts YouTube www.youtube.com/@wvsupremecourt
More information on cases being heard you can go here.