TOPEKA—A three-judge panel of the Kansas Court of Appeals will hear three appeals at Wichita State University September 21 as part of its Constitution Day activities. Oral arguments in the cases will be conducted in the CAC Theater at WSU, beginning at 9:30 a.m.
Chief Judge Richard Greene, and Judges Henry Green and Senior Judge Edward Larson will hear the cases. Chief Judge Greene is the presiding judge for the hearing.
He said all three appeals involve issues about rights guaranteed by U.S. Constitution, making the cases especially appropriate to hear around Constitution Day, September 17. "These cases were chosen because we thought they would present interesting constitutional issues for the students," Chief Judge Greene said. "The constitutional rights we all share are tested daily in cases like these."
Attorneys for each side will have an opportunity to present arguments to the judges, and the judges will have a chance to ask questions. After the hearings, the court will take each of the cases under consideration and will issue a written decision at a later date, usually within 60 days.
After each hearing is completed, the judges will be available to talk with students. The panel also will be available for questions following arguments in the last appeal that morning. The sessions at WSU are being sponsored by the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the university's Pre-Law club.
These hearings are part of the Constitution Day observance at WSU. Congress has directed by law that federally funded educational institutions host educational events about the United States Constitution on or about September 17 each year. The Constitution was signed by a majority of the delegates to the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787.
The three cases to be heard are:
State v. Hung T. Dang, Sedgwick County, scheduled at 9:30 a.m., is an appeal of a drug conviction in which the defendant argues that his statements to law enforcement should not have been admitted because he did not receive a timely Miranda warning.
City of Wichita v. Patricia Stevenson, scheduled for 10:30 a.m., involves the constitutionality of a Wichita city ordinance prohibiting overcrowding in a building, here "Harry and Ollies" tavern.
State v. Marquez L. McCray, scheduled for 11:30 a.m., this case involves the appeal of burglary and theft convictions and has a Miranda issue, but the defendant also challenges the constitutionality of the trial court's response to the jury's questions during deliberations.