Des Moines, March 31, 2015—On Wednesday, April 8, and Thursday, April 9, members of the Iowa Supreme Court will meet with students from seven high schools and two colleges to discuss the Iowa judicial system and the role of the courts. The justices will visit high school students from Decorah, Waukon, Oelwein, New Hampton, Waverly, Calmar, and Cresco, and meet with college students from Luther College and Northeast Iowa Community College.
High school and college visit schedule for Wednesday, April 8
10:15 am Chief Justice Mark Cady at Northeast Iowa Community College with students from NICC and South Winneshiek High School
12:15 pm Justice Bruce Zager at Luther College
1:00 pm Justice Edward Mansfield at Waverly-Shell Rock High School
High school visit schedule for Thursday, April 9
8:20 am Justice Thomas Waterman at Waukon High School
9:00 am Justice David Wiggins at Crestwood High School
9:00 am Chief Justice Mark Cady at Decorah High School
9:30 am Justice Brent Appel at Oelwein High School
10:00 am Justice Daryl Hecht at New Hampton High School
In addition to the school visits, the supreme court will hold a special session in Decorah Wednesday evening, April 8, at 7:00 p.m., in the Decorah High School auditorium, 100 Claiborne Drive, Decorah. During the special session, the court will hear oral arguments in two cases. The oral arguments are open to the public. A public reception with the justices in the Decorah High School cafeteria catered by the Decorah High School culinary arts group, Viking Café, will follow the oral arguments.
Special Session
Wednesday, April 8, 2015, at 7:00 p.m.
Decorah High School auditorium
100 Claiborne Drive
Decorah, Iowa 52101
The Iowa Supreme Court will hear lawyers argue in two cases:
State of Iowa vs. Tyler James Webster, case no. 13-1095, from Jefferson County
Defendant Tyler Webster appealed his conviction of murder in the second degree on the grounds of juror misconduct, including that the juror did not disclose a familiarity with the victim's family. The Iowa Court of Appeals reversed Webster's conviction and granted a new trial. The Iowa Supreme Court granted the State's Application for Further Review. The State argues that Webster waived his claim of juror misconduct when he did not raise the issue during the trial.
State of Iowa vs. Patience Paye, case no. 14-0183, from Black Hawk County
Defendant Patience Paye appeals her conviction for second offense public intoxication, arguing that the front steps of her home do not constitute a "public place" for purposes of the public intoxication statute. Iowa Code section 123.46 (2013). The Iowa Supreme Court has previously held that the front steps and common hallway of an apartment house do constitute public places, but it has not extended that analysis to a single family home.
The oral arguments will be recorded by Decorah High School Business and Marketing Communications students and posted to the Iowa Judicial Branch website.
Public reception
There will be a public reception catered by the Decorah High School culinary arts group, Viking Café, immediately following the court proceeding in the Decorah High School cafeteria.
For more information about the oral arguments
Attorneys' briefs for the two cases and a guide to oral arguments are posted on the Iowa Judicial Branch website at:
http://www.iowacourts.gov/About_the_Courts/Supreme_Court/Offsite_Oral_Arguments_Decorah/.
Note to news media
News media are invited to attend the oral arguments. Court rules apply regarding still camera, video camera, and audio recording devices used during the oral arguments. Information on expanded media coverage is available on the Iowa Judicial Branch Website.
Chapter 25 of the Iowa Court Rules regarding cameras and other electronic devices in courtrooms is available on the Iowa Legislature website (PDF). Internet Explorer 9 or higher is required to view this page of the Iowa Legislature website. Mozilla, Firefox, or Google Chrome will also work.
For More Information:
Steve Davis, Court Communications Officer, (515)725-8058 or [email protected].
Iowa Supreme Court
1111 East Court Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50319
515-281-3952