The Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, which has convened annually at Northwest since 2010, will visit the University again March 11 to hear oral arguments in three cases. (Northwest Missouri State University photo)

Feb. 27, 2019

Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District to convene at Northwest

A Northwest student listens to arguments as the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, convened at Northwest last year.(Photo by Carly Hostetter/Northwest Missouri State University)

The Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District, will again convene at Northwest Missouri State University and hear oral arguments in four cases, beginning at 1 p.m., Monday, March 11, in the J.W. Jones Student Union Ballroom.

A three-judge panel consisting of Western District judges Cindy Martin, Thomas Newton and Gary Witt will hear the arguments and remain after the court session to discuss the court system and explain the proceedings.

The program is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by Northwest’s Department of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Northwest Pre-Law Society.

The court has convened annually at Northwest since 2010, and the upcoming session will mark the 11th time it has sat for arguments in Maryville. Although the Western District convenes regularly at its courthouse in downtown Kansas City, it consists of 45 counties in central and western Missouri and holds court frequently in other locations within the district.

“It is important for the court to convene oral arguments outside of the courthouse in Kansas City,” Chief Judge Karen Mitchell said. “This gives individuals an opportunity to observe a part of the judicial system they normally do not see. We hope those attending will gain a better understanding of the court’s function.”

The court will hear appeals from previously held trials and other proceedings in area circuit courts. The judges will hear attorneys argue whether errors were made, requiring the cases to be retried or the trial court’s judgment reversed. The judges will read written arguments before the court session and may interrupt the attorneys’ oral arguments with questions.

Martin was appointed to the court in 2009 and previously practiced law for more than 25 years in Kansas City and Lee’s Summit.

Newton was appointed to the Western District in 1999 and was a Jackson County circuit court judge for six years before that. He previously served as assistant Jackson County prosecuting attorney and as an assistant United States attorney.

Witt was appointed to the Western District in 2010. He had served as an associate circuit judge in Platte County and previously practiced law there. He also served in the Missouri House of Representatives.