News
Release
March 5, 2009
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CONTACT:
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Lisa
Lacher, Drake, 515-271-3119, lisa.lacher@drake.edu;
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Steve
Davis, Iowa Judicial Branch, 515-725-8058, steve.davis@iowacourts.gov
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Iowa Supreme Court Holds Special Session
at Drake Law School
Des Moines, March 5, 2009 — 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.
Note to Editors: News media are invited to attend the
oral arguments and question-and-answer session. Court rules regarding expanded
media coverage apply.
Proceedings
will be streamed live from the Law School Web site at http://www.law.drake.edu/supremeCourtOralArguments.
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.
Iowa Supreme Court
1111 East Court Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50319
515-281-3952
