Court Outreach Program
Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District
The jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal, Third Appellate District, includes 23
counties and is the largest geographic district in the state.
It extends over a part of northeastern California that is larger than the
combined area of Connecticut, Delaware, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and
Vermont. In order to increase the public’s awareness of the intermediate
appellate courts, and to educate students and residents living far away
from the Court’s Sacramento courthouse, the Court Outreach Program was
instituted in April 2000.
According to Presiding Justice Arthur G. Scotland, the Court decided that the time had come to encourage
interested individuals to attend argument and learn first hand how appellate
courts operate. Justice Scotland said, “We chose to hold court in
a school setting so that we could make it an educational opportunity for
students.” The program has garnered statewide recognition. In January
2002, the Court was awarded the Ralph
N. Kleps Award for Improvement in the Administration of the Courts.
The program consists
of two day-long sessions at a public high school in the District.
On the first day, Presiding Justice Scotland provides an overview of the
appellate process to teachers and students studying American government.
The justices then hold a question and answer session. Some of the
questions previously asked by students have included the requirements to
hold office as an appellate justice, the confirmation and retention of
the justices, the applicability of search and seizure laws to students,
and how the justices balance their professional and family lives.
On the evening of that
first day, the local bar association usually hosts an educational and social
event. Justices and Court staff attend along with local government
officials, judges of the local trial court, and various members of the
legal community.
On the second day, a panel
of three justices hears oral arguments in appeals that are actually pending
before the Court. These proceedings take place at the high school
before students, teachers, and the general public. Occasionally,
more than one high school has taken advantage of this educational opportunity
by transporting students to the site to observe the proceedings.
Copies of the briefs and a synopsis of
the appeals are provided to the schools in advance to assist the students
and teachers in understanding the arguments, questions, and comments of
counsel and the Court. At some point during the day, the Court conducts
a question and answer session. Those in attendance are invited to
ask questions about the appellate process and the role of the courts of
appeal in our system of government. Questions are not permitted about
the specific appeals heard by the justices. However, copies of the
opinions issued by the Court on the appeals heard that day are forwarded
to the participating high schools.
