The Indiana Court of Appeals will hold oral argument in the case State v. Karl Jackson on Thursday, March 29th at 10:00 a.m. in the Branigin Room of the Napolitan Student Center at Franklin College. A three-member panel of Chief Judge John G. Baker, Judge Carr L. Darden, and Judge Margret G. Robb will hear the case on appeal from Hamilton Superior Court.

The Court is asked to decide under what circumstances a person may be convicted of driving with a license suspended for the status of being a habitual traffic violator. Arguing for the appellant, the State of Indiana, is Deputy Attorney General Christopher Americanos; attorney Lawrence Hansen of Fishers will argue for the appellee, Karl Jackson.

Following oral argument, the Court will answer questions about the judicial process in Indiana from the public and from Franklin College students.

This is the Court of Appeals' fifth visit to Franklin College, and the 180th oral argument heard "on the road," since the Court began regularly hearing oral arguments at venues across the state at its centennial in 2001. The Court travels to hear cases to better enable Hoosiers to learn about the judicial branch. Sites for "traveling oral arguments" typically include law schools, colleges, high schools, and county courthouses.

The Indiana Court of Appeals is the state's second-highest court. It reviews appeals from trial court decisions; a decision of the Indiana Court of Appeals is final unless granted further review by the Indiana Supreme Court. The majority of appeals filed in Indiana are decided by the Court of Appeals.  

The 15-member Court of Appeals issues some 2,500 written opinions each year, sitting in three-judge panels.