Today the Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal will convene at 11 a.m. in the Justice Revius O. Ortique Jr. Mock Trial Courtroom in the Professional Schools and Sciences Building on Dillard’s campus. The session, which is being held in honor of Black History Month, is part of an ongoing effort to educate students and the public about the work of the appellate court. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal Judges Terri F. Love, Roland L. Belsome, and Joy Cossich Lobrano will hear the oral arguments.
“As we celebrate Black History Month, we are cognizant of the fact that we stand on the shoulders of many great legal scholars, including Justice Revius Ortique, Jr.,” said Court of Appeal Judge Terri Love. “To have the privilege of conducting appellate arguments in a courtroom named in his honor is a true representation of his legacy,” she added.
The late Ortique was the first African-American elected to serve on the Louisiana Supreme Court. As an attorney and judge, he engaged in many landmark decisions. The Justice Revius O. Ortique Jr. Mock Trial Courtroom is part of Dillard University’s Center for Law and Public Interest, which was recently established to assist undergraduate students who seek careers in law and related fields and to serve as a conduit to champion issues of public interest.
“We are excited about convening a real-life court session in ‘real-time’ on campus,” said Dr. Gary Clark, political science professor and director of Dillard’s Center for Law and Public Interest. “Our students are so fortunate to have this experience as undergraduates and to gain insight directly from seasoned judges and law professionals,” Clark said.
Read more at Dillard.edu
