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Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Ind. Courts - Report on Court of Appeals argument at ISU

Updating Monday's ILB report titled "State’s Court of Appeals to hear case at ISU Tuesday" is this story today from Indiana State University's Indiana Statesman, written by Allison MacMunn. Some quotes:

The Indiana Court of Appeals usually hears oral arguments in the Indiana State House, but it visited ISU so that students and community members might learn more about the court's function.

While the court consists of 15 members, panels of only three are assigned to each case. Judges Melissa S. May, Patricia A. Riley and Margaret G. Robb heard the abbreviated oral arguments pertaining to the State of Indiana v. Michael Keller.

"We love having these kinds of oral arguments for public education," Robb said. "We like to meet with students; we are approachable people who are more than happy to explain the system."

"We try to pick cases that we believe will interesting to the audience," Robb said.

Riley, who has been on the court for 12 years, said, "We try to have as many oral arguments as possible."

May, who has been on the court for eight years, said the Indiana Court of Appeals gets cases that have already taken place on trial courts. The Court of Appeals considers if the trial court had the authority to do what it did, but Robb said it is rare for the Court of Appeals to overturn a ruling.

"It has to be an abuse - it has to be clearly wrong," Robb said. "The lawyers arguing are advocating a cause, so we have to be the ones to look at the case from all sides of it."

While the Court of Appeals hears approximately 2,500 cases a year, 200 million [sic.] cases are filed in Indiana heard by trial court judges annually. * * *

After the oral arguments, the judges opened up the floor so that students might ask questions. * * *

Brenda Moore, senior legal studies major at ISU, said the hearing was extremely interesting and that she learned that while there were only approximately 10 percent of female judges in 1990, there are no more today.

"Seeing this hearing made me feel like I can be part of the change and part of the trend," Moore said. Still deciding upon her career options, Moore said, "I thought it was interesting that they said being a deputy prosecutor or public defender is the most fun you can have with a law degree."

Riley said that law schools contain approximately 50 percent women, but women in law professions tend to be commissioners and magistrates rather than judges. "I think that it's important for women to set their goals high," Riley said. "There are not enough women judges, don't be limited in your profession and career simply to remain safe."

Riley said that while there are limitations in being a judge, she was still able to raise her kids despite the sacrifices. "Aim high. I get fearful that young women think we have it made," Riley said. "There is still a glass ceiling."

"I hope they have a better understanding of the judicial process that many believe only happens behind closed doors," Riley said.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on March 8, 2006 05:04 PM
Posted to Indiana Courts