BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – The Indiana University Maurer School of Law will host an oral argument before the Court of Appeals of Indiana on March 3, giving law students, the IU community and members of the public a rare local opportunity to see part of the state’s judiciary process live.
Judges Edward W. Najam Jr. and Leanna K. Weissmann and Senior Judge John G. Baker are scheduled to hear arguments in Parkview Hospital Inc. v. American Family Insurance Co. between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. in the law school’s DeLaney Moot Court Room. The appeal involves matters relating to the Hospital Lien Act, attorney’s fees, forfeiture, damages and more.
Traveling oral arguments, or Appeals on Wheels, take the court across Indiana to help Hoosiers learn more about the judiciary’s indispensable role in Indiana government.
“The Court of Appeals affords the ‘absolute right to one appeal’ guaranteed by the Indiana Constitution,” said Najam, a former IU student body president and Bloomington native. “This year is the court’s 50th anniversary. The court’s eight men and seven women together have 536 years of experience as lawyers and judges.
“We hold our seats in trust for the people of Indiana. It is our mission to preserve the rule of law and equal justice under law. Our court is transparent and accountable. In every case, we issue a written opinion which both decides the case and explains our reasoning.”
The judges will hear oral argument, take the matter under advisement and then issue a ruling at a future date. Judges typically take time to answer questions – not involving the case being argued – from the audience after the event.
“We’re honored to once again host the Court of Appeals of Indiana here at the law School,” Maurer School of Law Dean Austen L. Parrish said. “Students from across the university and members of the local community will have the opportunity to see a live argument before an appellate court outside of a traditional courtroom, giving them an up-close and personal view of our state’s judicial system in action.”
The Indiana Court of Appeals is the state’s second-highest court. It reviews appeals from trial court decisions.
A decision of the Indiana Court of Appeals is final unless granted further review by the Indiana Supreme Court. The majority of appeals filed in Indiana are decided by the Court of Appeals.
The event is open to the public, but attendees must be seated before the hearing starts. Cell phones and recording devices cannot be used during the arguments.
