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12th Court of Appeals to hear cases at SFA


NACOGDOCHES, Texas -The Texas 12th Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments concerning three cases beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, in the McGee Building Room 133 on the campus of Stephen F. Austin State University. The event will provide an opportunity for educators, students and state residents to witness a judicial process not often observed.

This will be the second time the court has heard cases on the SFA campus. Sponsored by SFA's College of Liberal and Applied Arts, the event is free and open to the public. The session is expected to last until noon, however, individuals may come and go in a non-distracting manner.

The Texas 12th Court of Appeals is based in Tyler and covers 17 counties in East Texas, including Nacogdoches County. The court is responsible for hearing the initial appeals in civil and criminal matters.

As an appellate court, the members of the 12th Court of Appeals (three justices) review decisions by lower courts and determine if there was procedural error in the trial. The court does not try cases, hear witnesses or have jurors. The justices will review the cases and consider the attorneys' arguments from both sides of each case.

There will be a security check prior to admission to the court, and attendees are forbidden to use cellphones or recording devices. 

For information about the event, contact Dixie Groll at grollda@sfasu.edu or at (936) 468-2385.