The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit to hold a historic special session at Colorado Mesa University

The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has announced that it will convene a historic special session of court in Grand Junction on October 24, 2018.

Tenth Circuit judges will hear five different appeals at the Love Recital Hall in the Moss Performing Arts Center at Colorado Mesa University on October 24. The special session begins at 8:30am and lasts until 12:30pm. This marks the first time in history that the U.S. Court of Appeals has heard oral arguments anywhere in western Colorado.

“As a former attorney, I can say this event is one of the more remarkable campus visits we’ve had in a long time,” said University President Tim Foster. “We are honored to have these federal appeals court judges join us, and appreciate their interest in holding oral arguments in front of our students. We owe a big thank you to Jeff Hurd who was instrumental in making this happen. The selection of CMU for this special session is a feather in the cap of western Colorado.”

The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals is one of thirteen federal appeals courts in the United States. Federal courts of appeal are considered among the most powerful and influential courts in the country, having the ability to set legal precedent in regions that affect millions of Americans. The Tenth Circuit, based in Denver, covers Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming, plus portions of the Yellowstone National Park extending into Montana and Idaho.

Michael Delaney, CMU associate professor of criminal justice, said that “aside from having the Supreme Court of the United States come to campus, the Tenth Circuit is the best thing for people who study and follow American law. Having them come to western Colorado is unprecedented, and it’s a great opportunity for our students to see this important part of our federal court system up close.”

In addition to hearing oral arguments, the judges will interact with CMU students including a Q&A. Foster believes this interaction is a reflection of CMU’s values as an institution.

“From our teaching hotel and student produced gubernatorial debate to the Capitol Conference and this historic visit, CMU strives to provide students access to real-world training and the highest levels of civic involvement possible,” said Foster.  

The public is welcome to attend the special session at Love Recital Hall in the Moss Performing Arts Center beginning at 8:30am on October 24. Visitors will be screened by the U.S. Marshals Service and are encouraged to come early.   

Members of the media interested in covering the event should follow @ColoMesaNews for additional announcements or contact media relations for more information.