UA News

The oral arguments will call to question decisions in a attorney malpractice suit and in a case that involved a canine sniff search.

The public is invited to sit in on the Arizona Court of Appeals special sitting that will be held next week at The University of Arizona.

The UA James E. Rogers College of Law is hosting the court, which will hear oral arguments in two cases beginning at 2 p.m. on March 24.

"This is a great opportunity for our students and for the public," said Janet Brauneis, the UA college's assistant dean for academic enrichment and external relations . "And it provides and opportunity to view these proceedings in a location other than they normally would."

The sitting – which offers a candid look at the state-level court's appeals process – will be held in Room 164 of the College of Law, which is located at 1201 E. Speedway Blvd.

Seating is limited and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Those planning to attend must adhere to security requirements.

Food, drinks, purses, backpacks, laptops and electronic equipment are prohibited. A secured storage space will not be provided. Cell phones are allowed, but must be turned off while in the courtroom.

Everyone must go through security during each entry into the courtroom, but entry will not be allowed during oral arguments.

To make a reservation to attend, visit the James E. Rogers College of Law's registration Web site.

The two cases are:

State v. Guillen: The court must weight whether a canine sniff search that is served on the exterior of Jose Salvador Guillen's home and results in details about the home's interior constitutes a search under the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the release noted. The court will also try and determine whether the sniff search violated the Arizona Constitution and, if it did, whether law enforcement officers must have probable cause and a warrant to conduct such a search or whether reasonable suspicion is sufficient.

Beynon v. Trezza: The release noted that, in reviewing this attorney malpractice case, the court must determine whether the trial court incorrectly granted a summary judgment in favor of the defendant or lawyer upon finding the lawyer failed to file an action on the plaintiffs' behalf in a timely matter. State law requires a filing within a one-year period.

At the end of the final argument, the panel of judges will be available to answer general questions from audience members. While judges are prohibited from answering questions about pending cases, they can discuss Court operations and the decision making process if time allows.

"We try and get each court in each year," Brauneis said. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit heard cases at the UA law school earlier this month, and the college also hosts the Arizona Supreme Court.

"The courts do this as part of their community involvement," Brauneis said, "and they have been very cooperative and very gracious."