In honor of Constitution Day, the Nebraska Court of Appeals will be in session on the campus of Hastings College in Hastings, Nebraska, on September 14, 2017.

The Court of Appeals will divide into its customary two panels with three judges each to hold arguments at 9:30 a.m. and again at 1:30 p.m. in Hastings College’s Perkins Auditorium, Fuhr Hall (Music Building) 723 E. 9th Street.

Court of Appeals Chief Judge Frankie Moore said, “The Nebraska Court of Appeals judges welcome this opportunity to visit Hastings College and celebrate Constitution Day with area students.”

The Court of Appeals will hear several cases during both the morning and afternoon sessions, followed by an open question and answer session with students in attendance. Students will be given detailed case descriptions of each case in order to help them follow the legal arguments.

Hastings College students, along with government and social studies classes from area high schools, are invited to attend. Reporters, including student journalists, are encouraged to participate and ask questions.

This college campus initiative, designed by judges of the Court of Appeals, is intended to provide Nebraskans the opportunity to learn about the judicial branch. The Court of Appeals has previously held arguments at Peru State College, Midland University, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Concordia University, University of Nebraska-Kearney, Doane College, and Chadron State College.

The Nebraska Court of Appeals is the state’s second-highest court and reviews appeals from state trial court decisions. A decision of the Court of Appeals is final unless a party is granted further review by the Nebraska Supreme Court. The six judges on the Court of Appeals issue an average of 350 written opinions each year.

The sessions are free and open to the public, and visitors are encouraged to park at the college’s Lynn Farrell Arena lot (800 E. 12^th Street).

High school classes or groups can make arrangements to observe Court of Appeals oral arguments on September 14 at the 9:30 a.m. or 1:30 p.m. sessions by contacting the Hastings College Admissions Department at hcadmissions@hastings.edu or 402.461.7315.

For information on audio recording of oral argument sessions at Hastings College, or about the Court of Appeals traveling oral arguments, email Janet Bancroft at janet.bancroft@nebraska.gov.

Constitution Day is a day set aside to observe the signing of the United States Constitution, which occurred September 17, 1787. Former Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia is credited with proposing the 2004 legislation that created the annual commemoration, which is mandatory for schools that receive federal funding. Celebration of Constitution Day in Nebraska has been annually sponsored by the Nebraska State Bar Foundation and the Nebraska Judicial Branch through specialized programming and providing Constitution Day resources on the Web for classroom teachers.