The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit heard oral arguments in the St. Mary’s School of Law Courtroom on April 20 – 22. A panel of three judges heard oral arguments from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. The sessions were open to the public.The court is seated at the John Minor Wisdom U.S. Courthouse in New Orleans and has jurisdiction over Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana.

The panel consists of Judges Patrick E. Higginbotham, Emilio M. Garza and Edward C. Prado. Holding the oral arguments on the St. Mary’s campus provided a unique opportunity for the law school community to witness first-hand advocacy on important cases pending before the court.

Oral arguments for the following cases were heard at St. Mary’s:

Monday, April 20

No. 08-60449. Richard A. Purdhomme, Et Al., Appellants vs. Commissioner of IRS.

No. 08-10604. Richardson Independent School District, Appellant-Appellee vs. Michael Z, Et Al.

No. 08-10481. Oscar Renda Contracting Inc., Et Al., Appellants vs. The City of Lubbock, TX, Et Al.

Tuesday, April 21

No. 08-50186. United States of America vs. Isidro Garza, Jr.; Timoteo Garza; Martha Catalina Gonzalez Garza, Appellants.

No. 08-40750. Michael S. Unruh vs. Kevin Moore, Et Al., Appellants.

No. 08-20515. Guardian Nora Dutka, Etc., Appelalnt vs. AIG Life Insurance Co.

No. 08-60521. Barden Mississippi Gaming LLC, Etc., Appellant vs. Great Northern Insurance Co., Et Al.

No. 08-50646. Lone Star OB/GYN Associates vs. Aetna Health Inc., Appellant.

Wednesday, April 22

No. 08-50400. United States of America vs. Jose Garcia-Quintanilla, Appellant.

Nos. 08-10193 & 08-10540. The Verizon Employee Benefits Committee, Appellant-Appellee vs. Michael Frawley.

No. 08-20248. Symetra Life Insurance Co. vs. Rapid Settlements Ltd., Appellant (and related case).

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