Appeals Court to hold March 26 session at UNG

The Court of Appeals of Georgia will conduct an off-site oral argument session March 26 at the University of North Georgia's (UNG) Dahlonega Campus. Presiding Judge Sara L. Doyle will be joined by panel members Judge Ken Hodges and Judge Jeffrey A. Watkins. The event is open to the public.

"We are honored to host the Court of Appeals of the State of Georgia here on our campus at the University of North Georgia," UNG President Michael P. Shannon said. "This opportunity not only enriches our campus community but also underscores our commitment to fostering the development of our students into leaders who are engaged and informed citizens."

Court will be held at 10:30 a.m. March 26 in the Hoag Auditorium, where the judges will hear three oral arguments. The cases involve a student's suspension from the University of Georgia after a bar fight; a conviction for fleeing from the police after a high-speed chase; and a dispute between neighbors over a new parking place. The judges will hold a question-and-answer session for the students following the arguments.

"The judges are looking forward to holding oral arguments at the University of North Georgia. We enjoy giving students a chance to see attorneys and judges discuss active cases without traveling to Atlanta," Doyle said. "And we're grateful to UNG President Mike Shannon and Assistant Professor Valerie Cochran for making this event possible."

The Court of Appeals is Georgia's intermediate appellate court, with 15 judges who serve in panels of three. Oral arguments are not heard in all cases. The parties must ask to be heard, and the Court only grants about a third of the requests. The Court is committed to increasing confidence in the judiciary by making its judges more accessible to the public by holding court at different venues around the state.