Court of Appeal Holds Special Session for Alameda High School Students

The Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, Division Five will hold oral argument on Oct. 22 at Alameda High School in Alameda, an event to be attended by about 450 students, Presiding Justice Teri L. Jackson announced.

“One of the court’s goals in holding oral argument at high schools in our district is to offer students the opportunity to learn by actually seeing an appellate court in action, and in that way better appreciate how courts resolve disputes and play a crucial role in our democracy,” said Justice Jackson.

The entire senior class of Alameda High will attend the argument. Following the argument, students will have the opportunity to hear from and ask questions of the justices, their staff, the Attorney General’s Office, the First District Appellate Project, and the attorneys who argued the cases. Members of the local bar are visiting classrooms to explain the issues in the two cases to be argued, and the process that brought them to the appellate court.

This program is the result of a collaborative effort between the Court of Appeal, First Appellate District, Division Five; Alameda High School; and the Alameda Unified School District.

The following cases are to be heard:

A171045 Clayton v. Canada, a dispute between two neighbors over a portion of land near the boundary of their two properties.

A169576 People v. Northington, a criminal matter in which the appellant contends errors made by the trial court necessitate a new trial.

For more information, contact Mr. Charles D. Johnson, Clerk/Executive Officer at (415) 865-7264.