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The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals will sit for oral argument on Tuesday, Oct. 1, while visiting the Alpine campus of Sul Ross State University.

The arguments are open to the public, as are several panel discussions and presentations that will accompany the visit beginning Monday, Sept. 30, through Wednesday, Oct. 2.

The Court will be joined by the State Bar Criminal Justice Section Council and a delegation of Mongolian judges, who will observe the programs and close the event with a talk about building a democratic judiciary.

The Court of Criminal Appeals is Texas’ highest court for criminal cases. The Court consists of a Presiding Judge and eight Judges. They are elected by the voters of the entire state and hold their offices for six-year terms. The Court normally sits in Austin but travels to cities throughout Texas to engage the public.

“Hearing oral argument away from Austin was one of my first initiatives when I became Presiding Judge 24 years ago. Our first argument away was in Dallas, and since then we have visited law schools, appellate courts and at least one high school,” said Presiding Judge Sharon Keller. “Most recently, the Court has coordinated with the Criminal Justice Section of the State Bar to expand the program to include question and answers sessions, educational opportunities for lawyers to earn [continuing education credits], and social events where lawyers and judges meet. Holding oral argument around the state gives the Court the opportunity to meet lawyers and students and gives students an inside look at how the Court operates. It is one of the most worthwhile outside projects our Court engages in.”

Public events include the following:

Monday, Sept. 30, Espino Conference Center, Morgan University Center:

  • 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. – “Professional Panel” with Judge Diane Navarrete, El Paso Criminal District Court No. 1, Fort Bend District Attorney Brian Middleton, and Judge Audrey Moorehead, Dallas County Court at Law No. 3.
  • 11 a.m. to noon – “Understanding Texas’ Judicial Branch” with 106th Judicial District Attorney Philip Mack Furlow and 49th District Attorney Isidro (Chilo) R. Alaniz.
  • Noon to 4 p.m. – Staff and representatives from offices across the state will be available on the mezzanine to talk with students about careers in Criminal Justice.
  • 2 to 3 p.m. – “Deep Dive into the Cases Set for Oral Argument before the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals” with Assistant State Prosecuting Attorney Emily Johnson-Liu and Chief Public Defender James McDermott, Far West Texas Regional Public Defender’s Office.

Tuesday, Oct. 1, Espino Conference Center, Morgan University Center:

  • 9 a.m. – Oral Arguments. No video or photography will be allowed, though the arguments will be livestreamed on the Court’s YouTube page at https://youtube.com/@texascourtofcriminalappeals?si=YLn9d_3t8wrOJKCA.
  • 10:45 to 11 a.m. – Q&A with the Justices.
  • 1 to 4 p.m. – Free Thee-Hour Accredited Continuing Legal Education (CLE) from the State Bar Criminal Justice Section Council. Registration begins at 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 2, Marshall Auditorium, Morelock Academic Building:

  • 9:30 a.m. – Retirement ceremony honoring outgoing justices.
  • 10 a.m. to noon – “Mongolian Presentation on Building a Democratic Judicial System.”

More information about the Court of Criminal Appeals can be found at https://www.txcourts.gov/cca.