 Drake law student Erin Grundy plans to present an oral argument to the court. |
MEDIA CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, Drake, 515-271-3119, lisa.lacher@drake.edu;
Steve Davis, Iowa Judicial Branch, 515-725-8058, steve.davis@iowacourts.gov
The first cases heard by the Iowa Supreme Court next week may attract a larger audience than usual. Students at Drake University Law School will have the opportunity to see how attorneys represent their clients before the court during oral arguments starting at 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 10, in the courtroom of Drake’s Neal and Bea Smith Law Center, 2400 University Ave.
In the case of State v. Garrity, two law students will present oral arguments to the court.
Erin Grundy, a third-year Drake law student and intern with the State Public Defenders Office, is expected to argue for Garrity while Thad Roche, a second year University of Iowa law student and an intern for the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, is scheduled to argue for the state.
The students are allowed to present oral arguments to the court under Iowa Court Rule 31.15.
The rule allows a law student enrolled in a reputable law school who has completed three semesters, to appear as counsel in the appellate courts as long as the student is under the direct supervision of licensed Iowa counsel who is present at the arguments and the appearance is part of an educational program approved by the faculty of the student’s law school and the supreme court.
Following the arguments, the justices will participate in a question-and-answer session for the students. This special event is designed to help law students become more familiar with appellate court procedure and arguments.
Proceedings will be streamed live from the Law School Web site.
Summaries of the two cases are:
State v. Garrity. Defendant appealed from his convictions for operating while intoxicated (third offense), driving while barred, and driving while revoked, contending the district court erred in overruling his motion to suppress. The court of appeals affirmed the district court’s conclusion that defendant had not been denied his rights under Iowa Code section 804.20 (2007) (affording an OWI arrestee a limited right to confer with a family member or attorney). Defendant seeks further review.
Koenig v. Koenig. The plaintiff appeals from an adverse jury verdict in a premises liability action.
The hearing at Drake is part of the Law School’s 72nd Annual Supreme Court Celebration, which also will include a breakfast before the hearing for students and justices of the Iowa Supreme Court. The justices will have lunch with Drake Law School faculty that day.
The Supreme Court Celebration also includes a moot court competition in which four law student finalists will present oral arguments to the court at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 7, in the Iowa Judicial Branch Building, 1111 E. Court Ave.
The celebration culminates that evening with a banquet honoring the court, students and alumni. Drake Law School graduate Stephen Rapp, who currently serves as Prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, will give the keynote address at the banquet at the Downtown Marriott, 700 Grand Ave.
For more information regarding the Supreme Court Celebration, click here.
More detailed case summaries are available by clicking here.