Information from: Alexandria Daily Town Talk, http://www.thetowntalk.com
NATCHITOCHES, La. – The Louisiana Supreme Court will hold court Oct. 18 at Northwestern State University to hear oral arguments on four cases.
The session is part of an ongoing effort to educate and inform students and the general public about the work of the court, a release from NSU states.
The Town Talk reports ( http://townta.lk/Tg6u6V) the sessions will convene at 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Magale Recital Hall and will be open to the public as space is available.
The Louisiana Supreme Court periodically convenes in venues other than the Supreme Court building in New Orleans, Appearing in other cities is known as “riding the circuit.”
The Natchitoches session is part of events celebrating the March 1, 2013 bicentennial of the Louisiana Supreme Court.
“Before transportation made it possible to travel easily to New Orleans, riding the circuit was constitutionally required to make it possible for citizens statewide to have access to justice,” said Justice Greg Guidry, who is coordinating the court’s bicentennial commemoration.
“Natchitoches, along with Monroe and Opelousas, was a venue on the circuit, and we feel it is symbolically appropriate to return to our former home as we kick-off the celebration of Louisiana Supreme Court’s 200th anniversary,” Guidry said.
The justices also will participate in the annual Red Mass at 10 a.m. on Oct. 19 at Trinity Episcopal Church. The Red Mass is a prayer service for those in the legal and law enforcement professions. Trinity will host a reception following the service.
The Louisiana Supreme Court last sat at NSU in 1986.
“We place a high priority on civic engagement here at Northwestern and are delighted to host this event,” Northwestern State President Randall J. Webb said.