Texas 10th Court of Appeals hears first case of its kind in Texas during session at Blinn College
This marks the sixth consecutive year the Texas 10th Court of Appeals has held session at Blinn-Bryan Campus
November 9, 2017
The Texas 10th Court of Appeals made history while it held session at the Blinn College-Bryan Campus Wednesday.
For the first time in Texas history, the Waco-based appellate court heard a case involving a misdemeanor offense of unlawful disclosure or promotion of intimate visual material. Due to the rarity and complicated nature of the case, ex parte Richard Allen Montey Ellis has the potential to be heard by the Supreme Court.
This case was heard alongside two others on the Blinn-Bryan Campus before an audience of students, faculty, and members of the Bryan-College Station community. This marked the sixth consecutive year the court has held session at Blinn as part of a campaign to education the public about the role of appellate courts in the justice system.
“I am very passionate about the legal field, and this was a great opportunity for my peers and I to understand how the court system operates,” said Dallas Jackson, board member of the Legal Assistant Student Organization. “Observing an event like this allows us to witness how classroom material is applied to real-world scenarios.”
The Texas 10th Court of Appeals, consisting of Chief Justice Tom Gray and Justices Rex Davis and Al Scoggins, is based in Waco and hears civil and criminal appeals from 18 counties in Central Texas, including Brazos County. The court’s 2012 visit to Blinn was its first in more than a decade, and the event’s success each of the last five years has inspired the court to return.
“We want to make it as easy and accessible for the public as possible,” Gray said. “The purpose of holding oral arguments in this setting is to educate the public about what we do on a daily basis.”
Other cases heard Wednesday include in re Keith and Serena Tinker, a case concerning a couple seeking to modify the custody arrangement of their great-nephews, and Deon Latroy Rush v. the State of Texas, a case in which the appellant claims the State did not provide sufficient evidence to prove he evaded arrest after a traffic stop. Additional information on these cases can be found at: www.search.txcourts.gov/submission.aspx?coa=coa10.
The justices now will return to Waco, where they will research the legal issues and precedents, then issue a written opinion.
“It is very special for a court to go on the road and hold court on a college campus,” said Robert Stanberry, Legal Assistants Program Coordinator. “It is a great opportunity for all students – especially for students who plan to work in the legal field.”
The event is hosted by the Blinn Legal Assistants Program and the Legal Assistant Student Organization. Blinn’s Legal Assistants Program equips students for a variety of law careers with an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree or a Legal Office Certificate. Courses are taught by a faculty comprised entirely of lawyers and judges whose classes are structured to promote quality student-faculty interaction. Students completing the Legal Assistant AAS degree are eligible to sit for the National Association of Legal Assistants certification exam.
Blinn’s Legal Assistants Program offers flexible scheduling for working students, and students can pursue their AAS degree online or in the classroom.
Legal assistants, commonly referred to as paralegals, assist attorneys in law firms, companies and government agencies. Their duties include attending trials, assisting in testimony preparation, locating and interviewing witnesses, conducting client interviews, and conducting investigations and legal research. Their role is expanding as companies look to hire employees with a broad understanding of legal matters. This proves helpful during purchases, personnel matters, risk management, customer relations, and contract negotiations.
For more information regarding Blinn’s Legal Assistants Program, visit: www.blinn.edu/paralegal/
