MISSOURI APPELLATE COURT BRINGS CASES TO UNIVERSITY

Missouri' s Court of Appeals for the Eastern District made history Tuesday when judges held court for the first time at Southeast Missouri State University. It was the first time in the court's 124 years that it has met at an undergraduate school.

Eight appellate court judges, including Chief Judge Mary Rhodes Russell, handled court matters. The judges rotated, with each of 14 cases being heard by a three-judge panel.

Fifteen civil cases initially were on tap for the day, but one involving parental visitation wasn't heard because only one lawyer showed up for oral arguments. The judges said they would decide the case entirely on the basis of written briefs.

The judges sat at a black-skirted table atop a raised platform in Dempster Hall's Glenn Auditorium.

More than 100 students in the university's political-science and criminal-justice classes witnessed at least part of the morning sessions. Two sessions were held in the morning and a third in the afternoon.

Russell said the judges held court on campus in an effort to bring the court closer to the people. "We are sometimes considered a mystery court," she said prior to the start of court. Russell said the judges wanted the public to see how the appellate court operates.

She said the court previously has convened for oral arguments at St. Louis University's law school but never at an undergraduate institution.

The judges, who regularly hold court in St. Louis, also plan to hear oral arguments this year at sessions scheduled for the Washington University law school and at a high school in Hannibal.

Dr. Peter Bergerson, chairman of Southeast's political science department, welcomed the chance for his students to see the court. "Too often the court is isolated or insulated from the public," he said.

The state appellate court meets twice a year in Cape Girardeau. In the past judges have met at Commons Pleas Courthouse. Bergerson said he hopes the court will convene at the university again next year during its spring term. He said he would like to invite high school classes to any future session of the appellate court at the university.

Freshman Katie Cerneka was among Bergerson's students who watched the proceedings. "Everything is pretty much new," said Cerneka, who was a stranger to the appellate process. Cerneka enjoyed watching the lawyers make their points.

Freshman Cody Loveless welcomed having the court on campus. He said it gave students a chance to see the court operate. He said several of the lawyers made good arguments to the court.

Several local lawyers argued cases before the court, including Al Spradling III, Cape Girardeau's mayor; John Oliver and Malcolm Montgomery.

Following the second morning session, four of the judges took off their black robes and took questions from students in the audience.

Russell told the students that judges don't want to read long legal briefs in appellate cases. "They are supposed to be brief, but some attorneys just don't get it," she said. Lawyers can file briefs of up to 100 pages.

There are 14 judges on the Eastern District Court. Four are women. All are appointed by the governor to 12-year terms and continue to serve subsequent terms if retained by voters.

Russell said the judges have read briefs before they hear oral arguments. "After oral arguments it is rare that my mind has changed," she said.

The court hears about 1,200 civil and criminal appeals a year. At least 70 percent of the time the judges affirm the trial court rulings, Russell said.