The California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Five will hold a special oral argument outreach session for students at California State University, Northridge. Credit:simpson33

The California Court of Appeal, Second Appellate District, Division Five will hold a special oral argument outreach session for students at California State University, Northridge on Wednesday, Oct. 16.

The justices are expected to hear arguments in three cases, beginning at 10 a.m. in the Plaza del Sol Performance Hall of the University Student Union, located on the east side of the campus off Zelzah Avenue. The doors will open at 9 a.m. Attendees will not be able to bring in cell phones, smart watches, backpacks or bags of any kind. Pencil/pen and paper are allowed.

Yan Searcy, dean of CSUN’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, noted that the Court of Appeal’s outreach sessions are usually reserved for law schools, “so we are tremendously honored that CSUN was selected.”

“Our students and community will benefit greatly,” Searcy said. “It is rare that we get to see our democracy working up close, and it is even more rare when the opportunity comes directly to us.”

The special session is part of a program originally designed to introduce first-year law students to the appellate court system. As part of the program, the justices will attend a luncheon with students to answer questions and discuss the appellate court processes and procedures.

All four justices of the Second Appellate District, Division Five — Presiding Justice Laurence D. Rubin, Associate Justice Lamar W. Baker, Associate Justice Carl H. Moor and Associate Justice Dorothy C. Kim — are expected to participate in the Oct. 16 session at CSUN. The justices will hear arguments for civil and criminal cases.

“This is everything that our department and the university stand for in terms of connecting our students with the community,” said Vickie Jensen, chair of CSUN’s Department of Criminology and Justice Studies. “As far as we know, no Court of Appeal has come to a CSU campus. This visit provides our students, students who truly represent the community, invaluable exposure to what happens in appellate court proceedings.”

Jensen said students from across the university were invited to attend and watch the proceedings.

Retired Associate Justice Sandy Kriegler, a CSUN alumnus and faculty member in the Department of Criminology and Justice Studies, worked closely with Jensen to arrange for the special session.

“Most students are familiar with the trial courts, but few know how the appellate courts operate,” Kriegler said. “The CSUN students who observe the session of the Court of Appeal on campus will have a unique learning experience. Students will see how the law is made through appellate decisions. They also will be exposed to the many jobs that are available in the appellate court system, including lawyers, court clerks and bailiffs. It is gratifying that the justices of the Division Five of the Second Appellate District are generously giving their time to provide this exceptional event on campus.

California Court of Appeal, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Criminology and Justice Studies, Division Five, Second Appellate District