Eighth U.S. Circuit Court Visit Shows Justice System in Action

Wednesday’s special session of the Eighth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals brought a unique learning opportunity for the more than 300 people who attended at the School of Law. The court heard oral arguments in three cases, including the high-profile United States vs. Randeep Mann.

“We are pleased with the exceptional educational opportunity the court's special session provided for our law students and the university community,” said Stacy L. Leeds, dean of the law school. 

Judges Duane Benton, Bobby E. Shepherd (School of Law ’76) and Lavenski R. Smith (School of Law ’87) presided. Attorneys for Mann argued to the three-judge panel that there had been insufficient evidence used to convict Mann of using a weapon of mass destruction, possessing illegal weapons and other charges stemming from an attack that left the chairman of the Arkansas Medical Board partially blinded.

Security was tight for the special session, with federal marshals on-hand in addition to the university police department.

Following the oral arguments, the judges took several questions from law students and others in the E.J. Ball Courtroom. The court last visited the School of Law in 1998, when it heard an appeal concerning Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr.