Athens, Ga. – The University of Georgia School of Law will host the Supreme Court of Georgia on the afternoon of Jan. 16 in its Hatton Lovejoy Courtroom as the court hears oral arguments on a criminal death penalty case and a civil medical malpractice case. The justices normally convene at the State Judicial Building in Atlanta but conduct one or two special sessions outside the state’s capital each year.
This is the fourth time since 1993 that the court has held oral arguments at Georgia Law, the last being in 2004.
“To see our state’s highest court in action is a tremendous opportunity for our law school students,” Georgia Law Dean Rebecca Hanner White said. “One can learn a lot from watching legal counsel and justices interact at this level, and we are honored to host such an event.”
The cases being heard are Edenfield v. State (death penalty) and Shekhawat, et al. v. Jones et al. (medical malpractice).
In Edenfield, David Homer Edenfield is appealing the murder conviction and death sentence he received for the 2007 killing of 6-year-old Christopher Barrios Jr. in Glynn County.
In Shekhawat, two physicians with the Medical College of Georgia are appealing a Georgia Court of Appeals decision that found they were not entitled to sovereign immunity in the face of a lawsuit brought by the parents of an infant they treated who suffered a lifetime disability.
While in Athens, the court will also hold an admission ceremony, allowing licensed attorneys to become members of the bar of the Supreme Court of Georgia. Attorneys who would like to participate will need to fax in a completed admission form, which can be found at www.gasupreme.us/admissions, by Monday, Jan. 14. They will then need to bring the original form as well as a check for the $30 admission fee to the law school on Jan.16. Participants are asked to dress in court attire and arrive at the law school by 1:30 p.m. to check-in at the Hirsch Hall Rotunda. The induction ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. Those interested in staying to hear Edenfield v. State should call Suzanne Griffeth at 706/542-5190 to register as space is limited and seating priority will be given to law school students.
Members of the public interested in attending may call 706/542-5172 for more information.