Law Students Get a Special Opportunity to View a Live Court of Appeal Hearing in the Fowler Law Courtroom

On Monday, November 17, Fowler Law students watched a three judge panel from the California Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division Three, hold oral argument in the law school’s state-of-the-art Appellate Courtroom. The hearing provided argument on several criminal law matters currently before the court. Fowler School of Law students joined members of the bar and the general public in attendance at this special hearing. Those students who could not obtain a seat at the full-capacity hearing watched a live video feed from a Fowler Law classroom. Some students also received class credit for viewing the proceeding.

Students who could not obtain a seat at the full-capacity hearing watched a live video feed from a Fowler Law classroom

“It was definitely an honor to witness our appellate courtroom transformed into a forum for actual oral arguments to be heard by actual judges from the Court of Appeal. As a member of the moot court board, it was especially exciting to watch the space where we practice for our competitions being used by advocates for real people.” – April Cristal (JD ’16)

“Having the California Court of Appeal at Chapman’s Fowler School of Law was an amazing opportunity to see how the judicial process works at the appellate level and shows the law school’s dedication to educating us in a practical and useful way.” – Rachel Baker (JD ‘15)

The panel included Presiding Justice Kathleen E. O’Leary, Justice Richard D. Fybel and Justice Richard M. Aronson, who each teach as adjunct professors at the law school. Justice O’Leary and Justice Aronson teach Trial Practice. Justice Fybel co-teaches the advanced seminar “Holocaust, Genocide and the Law” with Professor Michael Bazyler at the Fowler School of Law.

Professor Scott Howe; Donald J. Kochan, Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development; Jayne Kacer, Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Administration; Richard D. Fybel, Associate Justice, California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three; Kathleen E. O’Leary, Presiding Justice of the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three; Richard M. Aronson, California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three; Dean Tom Campbell; Professor Lawrence E. Rosenthal; and Daniel Bogart, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.