Jacksonville University Law hosts Fifth DCA’s oral arguments
Fifth DCA Judge Scott Makar speaks with a group of Jacksonville University students at a luncheon following the court’s oral arguments at the university’s Terry Hall. “We were thrilled to have the Fifth District Court of Appeal, as I understand, for the first time in Jacksonville,” said JU College of Law Dean Nicholas W. Allard. “What an educational experience for our students.”
Florida’s newest law school is benefitting from Florida’s newest appellate court, at least indirectly.
Jacksonville University College of Law this week hosted the Fifth District Court of Appeal’s live oral arguments, a first for both institutions.
“We were thrilled to have the Fifth District Court of Appeal, as I understand, for the first time in Jacksonville,” said Jacksonville University College of Law Dean Nicholas W. Allard. “What an educational experience for our students.”
The Fifth DCA requested the JU venue after its boundaries were realigned to accommodate the new Sixth District Court of Appeal, which began hearing cases in Lakeland in January.
First year law student Susan Cavailhon asks a question to the judges at the luncheon following the oral arguments.
The September 26 oral arguments were held in Jacksonville University’s Terry Hall. The performance space was quickly transformed into a courtroom after hosting a concert the night before, Allard said.
The oral argument calendar included a criminal and two civil cases.
“The guest observers got an excellent cross section,” Allard said. “There was an appeal of a criminal conviction for perjury of an elected official, there was a contract/agency dispute, and there was a case about liability for negligence that led to the injury of a woman in her home.”
Jacksonville University College of Law 2L Randi Alt said she was excited to see lawyers perform in a high-stakes environment.
“It’s very interesting to see what we’re learning in class come to life and to see where we can take our legal education,” she said.
Fifth District Court of Appeal Judge Adrian Soud presided over a panel that also included Judge Harvey L. Jay and Judge Paige Kilbane.
After the proceedings, Fifth District Court of Appeal Judge Scott Makar joined the other three judges for lunch and a Q&A session with the students.
“We’re enormously grateful to the judges and to the practicing lawyers who put on such an informative teaching experience,” Allard said.
The Fifth DCA is planning to conduct another round of oral arguments at Jacksonville University in May, Allard said.
Allard said he wasn’t surprised that the Fifth DCA is collaborating with the law school. The local legal community has been supportive since the law school opened a year ago, Allard said.
“We feel very, very privileged,” he said.
