Louisiana Supreme Court Justices Held Oral Arguments at Southern University and Louisiana State University Law Centers - Press Release

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Louisiana Supreme Court Justices Held Oral Arguments at Southern University and Louisiana State University Law Centers 
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<div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;background-color:#428bca;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td bgcolor="#428bca" height="21" valign="middle" width="100%"><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#ffffff;">2025 Press Releases</span></strong> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="16%" style="width:1112px;"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><table style="width:100%;text-align:center;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="82" style="text-align:left;width:71px;">CONTACT:&nbsp;</td><td width="253" style="text-align:left;width:1039px;">Trina S. Vincent<br />504-310-2590 </td></tr></tbody></table><div align="left" style="text-align:center;"><table style="width:100%;border-spacing:3px;background-color:#f7ebc6;"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="38%" style="text-align:left;"><span style="color:#212073;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>March 19, 2025</strong></span> </td><td width="62%"><p align="right"><span style="color:#212073;"><strong>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</strong></span> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p style="text-align:center;"><strong></strong>&nbsp;</p><p style="text-align:center;text-transform:uppercase;"><strong>LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT JUSTICES HELD ORAL ARGUMENTS AT <br />SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY LAW CENTERS </strong> </p><p><strong>New Orleans, LA</strong> &ndash; The Louisiana Supreme Court recently held oral arguments at Southern University Law Center (SULC) and Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center (LSU) in Baton Rouge, LA. Students, staff, and faculty from the law schools were invited to attend. Each of Louisiana&rsquo;s four law school deans traditionally invites the Supreme Court to conduct oral arguments on their campuses. Last year, the Court held oral arguments at Loyola University New Orleans School of Law and plans to visit Tulane University Law School for oral arguments in the future. </p><p>The <a href="/dockets/March2025.pdf" target="_blank">Louisiana Supreme Court's docket</a> included four cases heard at SULC on Monday, March 17, 2025 at 1 PM. 19th Judicial District Court retired Judge Richard Anderson sat as Justice ad hoc for Justice Griffin who recused for one case. Three cases were heard at LSU on Tuesday, March 18, 2025 at 10 AM. The arguments were live-streamed on the Court&rsquo;s website, a service that has been available to the public since 2007. After oral arguments concluded, the Justices had discussions with students and faculty about the justice system and the importance of professionalism in legal practice. Notably, Chief Justice John L. Weimer and Justices Jefferson Hughes, William J. Crain, Jay B. McCallum, and Piper D. Griffin are graduates of LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center; Justice John Michael Guidry is a Southern University Law Center graduate and Justice Cade R. Cole is a Tulane University Law School graduate. </p><p>Chief Justice John L. Weimer expressed, &ldquo;The Justices of the Louisiana Supreme Court and I enthusiastically welcome the 20-plus-year tradition of holding oral arguments at academic venues. This practice reflects the historical tradition of 'Riding the Circuit' by past Justices, who once traveled throughout Louisiana to ensure that all citizens had access to justice at a time when transportation to the Supreme Court was challenging. By hearing arguments at law schools, we provide law students&mdash;who may one day argue before the Supreme Court&mdash;and faculty the opportunity to witness the judicial process. This also enables residents in the region an opportunity to observe the application of jurisprudence firsthand.&rdquo; </p><p>This event marked the first time that newly elected Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Guidry and Justice Cole participated in law school visits as Supreme Court Justices. <a href="/About/Biography?p=John_Michael_Guidry">Justice John Michael Guidry</a> was elected as an Associate Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court for the Second District, effective January 1, 2025, after serving 27 years on the First Circuit Court of Appeal, including two years as chief judge. <a href="/About/Biography?p=Cade_R_Cole">Justice Cade R. Cole</a>, who served as Louisiana&rsquo;s first state and local tax judge, was elected Associate Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court for the Third District, effective March 10, 2025. </p><p>Louisiana Supreme Court Clerk of Court Veronica O. Koclanes coordinated the oral arguments in collaboration with Southern University Law Center Chancellor Alvin Washington, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Accountability and Accreditation Regina Ramsey, Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Shawn D. Vance, and SULC IT and Security staff. At LSU Paul M. Hebert Law Center, Dean Alena Allen, Director of Executive Operations and Strategic Initiatives Leroy Turner, and LSU staff members helped to organize the visit to their institution. In preparation for the oral arguments, students received case briefs that highlighted the key issues of the cases being presented. </p><p><em><strong>Louisiana Supreme Court Mission:</strong> To preserve the integrity of the judiciary, to build and maintain public trust, to provide effective and efficient administration of justice in the Supreme Court, to ensure proper administration and performance of all courts under Supreme Court authority, and to ensure the highest professional conduct, integrity, and competence of the bench and bar.</em> </p><p><strong>For more information visit <a href="/">lasc.org</a> or contact Louisiana Supreme Court Public Information Specialist/Coordinator Trina S. Vincent at <a href="mailto:tvincent@lasc.org">tvincent@lasc.org</a> or (504) 310-2590.</strong> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><strong>-30-</strong></p><link rel="stylesheet" href="/press_room/press_releases/2025/images/2025-02_picgrid.css" /><div class="picgrid"><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2025/images/2025-02_Justices_at_LSU_Law_Center.jpg" alt="Riding the Circuit - Louisiana Supreme Court Justices Held Oral Arguments at Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center. (L-R) Louisiana Supreme Court Justice John Michael Guidry, Justice Jay B. McCallum, Justice Jefferson Hughes, Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justice William J. Crain, Justice Piper D. Griffin, and Justice Cade R. Cole. (FRONT) Clerk of Court Veronica O. Koclanes." /><br /><span class="caption">"Riding the Circuit" - Louisiana Supreme Court Justices Held Oral Arguments at Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center. (L-R) Louisiana Supreme Court Justice John Michael Guidry, Justice Jay B. McCallum, Justice Jefferson Hughes, Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justice William J. Crain, Justice Piper D. Griffin, and Justice Cade R. Cole. (FRONT) Clerk of Court Veronica O. Koclanes.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2025/images/2025-02_Justices_at_LSU_Law_Center_Clerk_of_Crt.jpg" alt="Riding the Circuit - Louisiana Supreme Court Justices Held Oral Arguments at Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center. Louisiana Supreme Court Clerk of Court Veronica O. Koclanes addressed the audience prior to oral arguments." /><br /><span class="caption">"Riding the Circuit" - Louisiana Supreme Court Justices Held Oral Arguments at Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert Law Center. Louisiana Supreme Court Clerk of Court Veronica O. Koclanes addressed the audience prior to oral arguments.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2025/images/2025-02_SULC_audience.jpg" alt="Riding the Circuit - Louisiana Supreme Court Justices Held Oral Arguments at Southern University Law Center (SULC) as law students observed." /><br /><span class="caption">"Riding the Circuit" - Louisiana Supreme Court Justices Held Oral Arguments at Southern University Law Center (SULC) as law students observed.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2025/images/2025-02_Justices_with_SULC_Chancellor_and_Vice_Chancellor.jpg" alt="Riding the Circuit - Louisiana Supreme Court Justices Held Oral Arguments at Southern University Law Center (SULC). (L-R) SULC Chancelor Alvin Washington, Louisiana Supreme Court Justice John Michael Guidry, Justice Jay B. McCallum, Justice Jefferson Hughes, Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justice William J. Crain, Justice Piper D. Griffin, Justice Cade R. Cole and SULC Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Shawn D. Vance." /><br /><span class="caption">"Riding the Circuit" - Louisiana Supreme Court Justices Held Oral Arguments at Southern University Law Center (SULC). (L-R) SULC Chancelor Alvin Washington, Louisiana Supreme Court Justice John Michael Guidry, Justice Jay B. McCallum, Justice Jefferson Hughes, Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justice William J. Crain, Justice Piper D. Griffin, Justice Cade R. Cole and SULC Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs Shawn D. Vance.</span> </p></div><div><p><img src="/press_room/press_releases/2025/images/2025-02_Justices_at_SULC_bench_w_atty.jpg" alt="Riding the Circuit - Louisiana Supreme Court Justices Held Oral Arguments at Southern University Law Center (SULC). (L-R) Louisiana Supreme Court Justice John Michael Guidry, Justice Jay B. McCallum, Justice Jefferson Hughes, Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justice William J. Crain, Justice Piper D. Griffin, Justice Cade R. Cole." /><br /><span class="caption">"Riding the Circuit" - Louisiana Supreme Court Justices Held Oral Arguments at Southern University Law Center (SULC). (L-R) Louisiana Supreme Court Justice John Michael Guidry, Justice Jay B. McCallum, Justice Jefferson Hughes, Chief Justice John L. Weimer, Justice William J. Crain, Justice Piper D. Griffin, Justice Cade R. Cole.</span> </p></div></div><p>&nbsp;</p>
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