UCLA law students usually expect mock trials to be held in their 1950s moot courtroom, but this Thursday a real court will be in session.
The law school will host the 2nd Appellate District of the California Court of Appeal, giving students a chance to experience live court proceedings.
The role of an appellate court is to review the decisions made by superior courts, paying special attention to any prejudicial errors of law that may have been made, according the California Courts Web site.
The upcoming court proceedings will be held by Presiding Justice Norman Epstein, Associate Justice Gary Hastings and Associate Justice Daniel Curry with the hope of exposing students to a courtroom atmosphere.
A justice at the 2nd appellate court for over a decade, Epstein said he’s only left once to hear a case outside of his downtown L.A. courtroom. Last year the court held oral arguments at Loyola Law School for a day.
The California Court of Appeal rarely travels outside its own courts to locations such as the UCLA School of Law, but when it does, it offers unique benefits to law students.
“Students get a better impression of how the process works – what’s effective and what’s not,” Epstein said.
Another reason for holding cases outside of the Court of Appeal courtroom is that it allows the public to have a greater connection with legal proceedings.
“It’s good in general that there be more transparency,” Epstein said.
Unlike moot court sessions held at the law school, Thursday’s oral arguments will involve real lawyers arguing real cases, which means law students in attendance will have to pass through a security checkpoint before entering the moot courtroom.
Typically, an appeals case has two stages: the filing of a brief – a document which presents the litigant’s position – and oral arguments, which are presented in front of the court.
During the oral argument stage, the litigants can emphasize particular points in a brief while allowing the justices to clear up any ambiguities they might have about the case, Epstein said.
“It’s very spontaneous with lots of give and take,” he added.
The oral argument stage is practically the last stage before a final decision is made, Epstein said. The presiding justice often already develops a tentative position before oral arguments even begin.
After hearing oral arguments the justices meet and discuss the case once more before concurring on a final decision.
The cases scheduled at the law school include Dominguez v. Home Depot USA, Inc., a case that deals with whether Home Depot received a fair trial in a products liability case.
Roper v. TIG Insurance Co. is another case on Thursday’s calendar and concerns an insurance claim arising from the 1994 Northridge earthquake.
Those interested in attending the event can e-mail Susan Gillig at gillig@law.ucla.edu.