(WARRENSBURG, Mo.) – The Missouri Court of Appeals for the Western District will convene at the University of Central Missouri on Monday, June 19,  and  Monday, June 26.

The June 19 session will be held in conjunction with Missouri Boys State and will take place at Hendricks Hall on the Central Missouri campus beginning at 2 p.m.  The June 26 session will be held in conjunction with Missouri Girls State and will also take place at Hendricks Hall beginning at 2 p.m., according to a news release.

A three-judge panel consisting of Western District Judges Thomas Newton and Alok Ahuja and Missouri Supreme Court Judge Zel Fischer will hear oral argument at the Missouri Boys State session. A second three-judge panel consisting of Western District Judges Lisa White Hardwick, Karen K. Mitchell and Cynthia L. Martin will hear oral argument at the Missouri Girls State session.

Chief Judge Mark D. Pfeiffer explained that the cases are appeals from previously held trials in area circuit courts.

“The judges will hear attorneys argue whether the trials had errors which should cause them to be retried, or the trial court’s judgment reversed,” he said.  “The judges will read written arguments before the court session and may interrupt the attorneys’ arguments with questions.”

Missouri Boys State is sponsored by the American Legion and Missouri Girls State is sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary. They exist to teach the fundamentals of citizenship, government and politics to the brightest high school juniors in the state. Participants learn firsthand the inner workings of the three branches of state government — the executive, the legislative and the judicial.

The upcoming sessions will be the 12th consecutive appearances of the Missouri Court of Appeals, Western District at Boys and Girls State. The Court convenes regularly in Kansas City. However, during the past 24 years, the Court has also held sessions in Chillicothe, Clinton, Columbia, Fulton, Gallatin, Huntsville, Independence, Jefferson City, Keytesville, Kirksville, Lexington, Liberty, Linneus, Macon, Marshall, Maryville, Milan, Moberly, Nevada, Platte City, Richmond, Rock Port, Saint Joseph, Savannah, Trenton, Tuscumbia and Warrensburg.

Pfeiffer said the hearings are important because they offer the public a different perspective.

“It is important for the Court to convene oral arguments outside of Kansas City,” Pfeiffer said. “This gives individuals an opportunity to observe a part of the judicial system they normally do not see. We hope those attending will gain a better understanding of the Court’s function.”