MITCHELL -The Indiana Supreme Court will travel to the Mitchell Opera House in Lawrence County on Wednesday, October 26.
The Court will hold an oral argument in Christopher Jerome Harris v. State of Indiana (21A-CR-1315), a criminal case concerning habitual offender enhancement.
After a bench trial, the Marion Superior Court found Harris guilty of robbery and battery. Harris requested a jury trial on the charge that he was a habitual offender, but the trial court didn’t allow him to present evidence to the jury about the circumstances surrounding his convictions. The Court of Appeal affirmed Harris’s convictions and sentence. Harris has petitioned the Indiana Supreme Court to accept jurisdiction over the appeal.
Public Supreme Court proceedings are called “oral arguments,” which provide the Justices with the opportunity to ask attorneys questions about the cases. Usually, oral arguments last 40 minutes to an hour. An honorary bailiff will call the court to order. Each side has 20 minutes to argue. Typically the appealing party will open the argument, the other side then responds, and then the appealing party has the last word.
The Court holds oral arguments at the State House in Indianapolis and occasionally schedules arguments outside the capital. Traveling oral arguments allows students, the press, and the public in other areas of the state the opportunity to see the work of the Court.
This argument will take place in the Mitchell Opera House, at 217 North 7th Street, in Mitchell at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The argument is open to the press and the public. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Those interested in attending will be required to enter through the main entrance from North 7th Street and go through security.
Nearly 200 students from the following schools are scheduled to attend:
- Mitchell High School
- Orleans High School
- Shoals High School
The argument will be webcast live and archived on the Court’s website. The Opera House is accessible to those with disabilities. Accessible parking is available in the side lot on West Brook Street. Individuals needing special accommodations should contact Sarah Kidwell at sarah.kidwell@courts.in.gov.
