Texas Court Of Criminal Appeals To Convene Nov. 10 At Baylor Law School

by Alan Hunt

Making their first visit to Baylor Law School, judges of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals will hear four cases at the Sheila and Walter Umphrey Law Center on Wednesday, Nov. 10. The public is invited to attend the hearings in the Jim Kronzer Appellate Advocacy Classroom and Courtroom (Room 127) at the law school.
Two cases will be heard during the morning session, starting at 10 a.m., and two will be heard in the afternoon, starting at 1:30 p.m. The judges will meet with Baylor law students at a reception scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in the Fanning Student Lounge at the law school.
The Court of Criminal Appeals, the highest state court for appeals resulting from criminal cases, holds sessions throughout the year in Austin. The Court is comprised of nine members -- a presiding judge, Judge Sharon Keller, and eight judges, including Judge Tom Price of Dallas, who is a 1970 Baylor law graduate. Judge Price was elected to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in November 1996. His current term on the court is through 2008.

Previously, Baylor Law School has hosted visits from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Texas Supreme Court and the Tenth District Court of Appeals. Baylor Law Dean Brad Toben said, "This sitting continues our long tradition of having the courts of our state and nation sit and hear arguments at the Law School. These events have been intellectually stimulating for all involved, and especially for our students. We are very grateful to the Court of Criminal Appeals for making this distinctive opportunity available to the Law School community."
Professor Leah W. Jackson, associate law dean, said a security check will be in operation at the courtroom doors and she recommended that bags should be left outside the room. She said access to and from the courtroom also will be restricted during the case hearings and no cameras or recording devices will be permitted in the courtroom. A live video feed of the proceedings will be provided in an adjoining classroom, Room 122, with no restrictions, Jackson said.

NOTE TO NEWS EDITORS:

Seats will be reserved in the courtroom for members of the media. The judges will be available for pictures in the law school courtyard at approximately 11:35 a.m. and in the courtroom at the close of the afternoon session, at approximately 3 p.m.