The Alabama Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in two cases on Thursday, Nov. 6, at the University of South Alabama’s Mitchell Center.

The event, which is free and open to the public, begins at 9 a.m. and ends at noon.

In April, USA President Gordon Moulton invited the Justices of the Alabama Supreme Court to sit in special session on campus. This marks the second time in USA history that the Court has held a special session on campus.

This unique occasion offers USA students, faculty and staff a chance to witness the activity of the Alabama Supreme Court outside the Judicial Building in Montgomery.

“This is a rare opportunity for students and the entire community to watch the Court in action in our own backyard,” said Dr. John Smykla, professor and chair of the department of political science and criminal justice. “It helps build our trust in government.”

Students in every college at USA will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to observe how cases are argued before the State’s highest appeal court.

From 9 a.m. to approximately 10:15 a.m., attorneys from Birmingham and Butler, Alabama representing Barbara Roberts et al. and Liberty National Insurance Company et al., will argue a cancer policy issue against Liberty National Insurance Company. The case has consequences for health care, business, and medicine.

The second case, Hayden Jerome Jackson v. State of Alabama, is a criminal appeals case. State Attorney General William Pryor, Jr. and State Solicitor General Nate Forrester will argue the case along with Mobile attorney, Glenn Davidson who represents Jackson. Jackson was stopped at a roadblock/safety check point at RV Taylor housing project in Mobile in 2001. Mobile County Sheriffs discovered marijuana in Jackson’s vehicle as a result of the stop. Jackson claims that the suspicionless roadblock violated his Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable search and seizure.

Everyone on campus is invited to attend. High school students and teachers from Mobile and Baldwin counties have been invited to participate in this historic event.

For more information call USA’s department of political science and criminal justice at 460-7161.