A real jury trial will be held in the courtroom(s) of the UT Law School beginning on Monday, September 18, 2000, at 9:00 a.m. It is entitled:
Charlotte Alexander, as heir of Velma Buchanan vs. LaVernia Nursing Facility, et al
This is a civil lawsuit in which plaintiff alleges that Velma Buchanan (now deceased but unrelated to events in suit), while a patient at the Lavernia Nursing Facility, was raped by one of the employees of the nursing facility. Judge Joe Hart, former presiding district court judge in Travis County, will be the judge for the case.
Plaintiff's attorney is Ray Chester of Chester & Allen in Austin; Defendant's attorneys are Delta Best and Allison Spruill of Best and Spruill in Austin.
On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (September 18-20) the trial will be in the Jeffers Courtroom on the 3rd level of Townes Hall (3.140). Enter from the double doors on the East side. This is because the Texas Supreme Court will inaugurate the Eidman Courtroom in the Connolly Center for Justice Building on Wednesday, September 20th. Beginning on Thursday, September 21, the trial will be in the newer Eidman Courtroom (2nd level of the CCJ). Enter from West end.
Also, on Thursday, September 14th, Judge Hart will be hearing pretrial motions in the Jeffers Courtroom beginning at 9:00 a.m.
As a law student you are not only welcome but encouraged to attend as much of the trial as you can afford to attend. For jury voir dire on Monday morning (Sept. 18) and, possibly, afternoon, there will be no room in the courtroom due to the number of jury panelists. However, the voir dire can be observed on live video in the Eidman Courtroom. If the turnout is heavy enough we shall attempt to reinstitute some video presentation throughout most of the trial. There will be no videotapes of the trial.
On Tuesday, September 19th, there will be room in the courtroom for 60 + students. Please feel free to drop by and attend when you can. Please be considerate of the jury, the judge, the lawyers, and the parties to the suit and not disturb them. In other words, please be quiet during the sessions and, especially, when the jury is present.
A very important caveat: DO NOT DISCUSS THE CASE IN THE PRESENCE OR HEARING OF ANY JUROR. They will be wearing juror designation labels.
We shall try to provide some opportunities for discussions, questions, and the like to be answered by Judge Hart, Professor Hazel, and, perhaps, others.
This is a first for us. Let's make it worthwhile for everyone. We are especially grateful to Judge Hart, the attorneys, the parties, and the jurors for giving us this opportunity.