O'Connor to Sit with Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals at UA

Next week, retired Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor will serve on a three-member panel that is hearing cases that are being appealed.

Retired Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor of the United States Supreme Court will return to the bench later this month for appeals cases.

O'Connor will join two judges of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit for special sittings at the University of Arizona Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. 

Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Alex Kozinski and Circuit Judge Sandra Segal Ikuta, both of Pasadena, are also serving on the panel hearing appeals of decisions reached by federal trial courts in Arizona and Nevada.

The panel will hear oral arguments at the UA's James E. Rogers College of Law. The panel will hear three difference cases on Oct. 19 at Arizona State University.

The UA auditorium has already reached capacity, so the College of Law is taking reservations for those who would like to attend. Visit its Web site to be added to the waiting list..

Also, a live videostream of the oral arguments will be available in Room 168 at the College of Law on a first-come, first-served basis. A very limited number of seats may be available in the Ares Auditorium shortly before court begins and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis from those in the videostreaming room.

Those with seating in the Ares Auditorium must comply with the security protocol and conduct guidelines and courtroom attire is required.

The two cases to be presented at the UA are: 

• Arizona State University Students for Life v. Crow,: Case 08-15905 Students involved with the organization are appealing the Arizona district court's summary judgment in its action challenging the constitutionality of ASU's insurance requirement for off-campus groups or entities and the university's "one-zone" reservation requirement. Students for Life is an officially recognized student organization at ASU with a stated purpose of educating the student body about pro-life issues from conception to natural death. ASU requires liability insurance for any event involving a third party on campus. 

• Gonzalez v. State of Arizona, Cases 08-17094, 08-17115: In these consolidated actions, plaintiffs sought declaratory and injunctive relief barring enforcement of the voting-related provisions of the Arizona Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act, enacted as Proposition 200 by the state's voters in 2004. Prop. 200 requires proof of citizenship to register to vote and proof of identification to vote in person on election day. Plaintiffs alleged that the requirements violated the Equal Protection Clause. Plaintiffs appeal from the Arizona district court's summary judgment and bench trial judgment.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals hears appeals of cases decided by federal trial courts and certain executive branch administrative agencies in nine western states and two Pacific Island jurisdictions.

The court regularly hears cases in San Francisco, Pasadena, Portland and Seattle, and also travels periodically to other cities within the circuit to hold court. A complete schedule of
cases is available online at.