K-State Student Union (Courtesy photo)
Court was in session Tuesday afternoon inside the Little Theater at the K-State Student Union.
Three judges from the Kansas Court of Appeals heard four cases — two of them that happened in Manhattan — in front of an audience of students, faculty and onlookers.
The event was a part of K-State’s celebration of U.S. Constitution Observance Day.
“It’s a rare opportunity for the students to have the court come in their own backyard and to see their judicial process in person,” said Daralyn Gordon Arata of the Office of Pre-law Advising for KSU. “And (for them) to do it conveniently dropping in and out between their classes.”
Two of the cases had Manhattan ties. In the State of Kansas v. Levertis Horne, judges heard about a marijuana deal gone bad that convicted Horne of aggravated battery, two counts of attempted aggravated robbery and aggravated burglary. In the other, the State of Kansas v. Amanda E. Wagner, judges heard about the DUI chase that led to Wagner abandoning her vehicle.
Judge Stephen Hill said after the hearings that it was good to get away from Topeka and show students different aspects of the court system.
“We think it’s importatn for our court to go out and hold hearings in places other than Topeka, so students and just ordinary folks can come and watch the court system work,” he said.
Freshman K-State student Maxwell Kepka said the same after hearings concluded.
“I think it’s important whether or not you are going into law, because at some point you probably will serve on a jury, so understanding the process and the formal courtroom setting really gives you a better view on how our court system works and how it really functions,” Kepka said.
