By Cathrin Verano, Law Librarian · Office of Communication, Education & Outreach
On September 30, the Indiana Supreme Court traveled to Jefferson County to hear oral argument in Ajaylan M. Shabazz v. State of Indiana. Over 800 attendees took to the bleachers in Hanover College’s Collier Arena to view the proceedings. After court was gaveled into session by honorary bailiff Creek Arthur, the five justices spent the next 40 minutes considering whether allowing a witness to testify remotely violated rights protected in the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article 1, Section 13 of the Indiana Constitution.
Among the audience were state representatives, local judges, administration from Hanover College, area attorneys, and students from the following schools:
- Grace Christian Academy
- Hanover College
- Jac-Cen-Del Middle/High School
- Jeffersonville High School
- Jennings County High School
- Madison Consolidated High School
- Milan High School
- New Washington Middle/High School
- Rock Creek Community Academy
- South Ripley High School
- Southwestern High School
- Switzerland County High School
- William W. Borden High School
The students in the audience were not only numerous, but also highly engaged in the event. College and high school students alike took advantage of the opportunity to pose questions directly to the members of the Court, filling the entire 30-minute Q&A period with animated and insightful discussion. Between shout-outs to their preferred baseball teams and references to the films Hoosiers and Legally Blonde, the justices explained the judicial selection and retention processes, shared their strategies for maintaining work-life balance and dealing with difficult subject matters, and offered advice to students pursuing legal careers.
Typically, the Court schedules traveling arguments twice a year to bring this important function of state government to a location outside of Indianapolis. Since they began in 1994, this was the 54th such opportunity for students, media, and members of the public to see the state’s highest appellate court in action in their own community.
See more photos of the event on Flickr.com/incourts or scroll through the pics below.
