The University of Notre Dame Law School will host the Indiana Supreme Court oral arguments in the case of Jerrme Damar Cartwright v. State of Indiana on Nov. 14 (Monday).
The case involves a defendant who was convicted of attempted battery with a deadly weapon, attempted aggravated battery and possession of a handgun by a felon. The Court of Appeals reversed his conviction on grounds that the jury was selected unfairly.
Bringing the arguments to Notre Dame provides an opportunity for students and other members of the public to see first-hand how the Supreme Court operates, according to Chief Justice Randall T. Shepard. “This allows the students to consider a real case. The members of the Court also enjoy meeting with the students after the argument to hear about their classes and professional goals and answer their questions about the Court.”
The argument session begins promptly at 3:30 p.m. in the Eck Hall of Law’s Patrick F. McCartan Courtroom. Once the courtroom doors close at the beginning of the session, spectators may not enter or exit until the conclusion of the arguments. Spectators who expect to leave early as well as those who arrive late or after all of the courtroom seats have been filled will be asked to view the arguments in Biolchini Hall Rooms 1310 and 1315, which have been reserved as overflow rooms.
Bags, purses and briefcases are permitted in the Courtroom. Spectators may bring their laptops with them but may not open them to take notes. The public will be asked to shut off cell phones in advance of entering the courtroom, and will be told that cell phones may not be used to take photographs during the argument.
A brief question-and-answer period will follow the oral argument, though for technical reasons this portion of the session will not be broadcast in the overflow rooms. A reception with the justices will be held in the Eck Commons afterwards and is open to all students.
For more background on the case, spectators are encouraged to read the Court of Appeals’ decision at this link. The parties’ briefs are also available at this link.
Originally published by at law.nd.edu on November 08, 2011.