9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Panel to hear arguments in three cases Oct. 10 at Gonzaga Law

October 09, 2017

SPOKANE, Wash. – A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in three civil cases in the Barbieri Courtroom at the Gonzaga University School of Law (721 N. Cincinnati St.) starting at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 10. The hearings are free and open to the public and media at no cost; no cameras allowed.

All individuals wishing to attend must present government-issued photo identification; no large bags or backpacks will be allowed in the Barbieri Courtroom. Arguments in each of the three cases will last approximately 30-40 minutes with 10-minute breaks between each case.

An appellate panel made up of Judges Susan Graber, Richard Paez, and Richard Clifton will hear arguments in two cases from Oregon: Dennis Hooper v. Jackson County Sherriff’s Office, and the Eagle Point Education Association v. Jackson County School District. The third case, originating in Eastern Washington, is Poco, LLC v. Farmers Crop Ins. Alliance.

THE CASES

  • Dennis Hooper v. Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, Case 15-35521. Hooper appeals from jury trial judgment in action alleging that his Fourth Amendment rights were violated in a traffic stop without probable cause.
  • Eagle Point Education Association v. Jackson County School District, Case 15-35704. The school district appeals district court summary judgment in an action involving a teachers’ union and a high school student arising out of a teachers’ strike.
  • Poco, LLC v. Farmers Crop Insurance Alliance, Case 16-35310. Poco appeals the district court’s summary judgment in favor of Farmers Crop Insurance Alliance in Poco’s diversity insurance coverage action.

The U.S. Court of Appeals is divided into 13 circuits. The 9th Circuit, based in San Francisco, hears cases from 13 district courts (from the states of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon and Washington and the territories of Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.

For more information, contact Jeff Geldien, assistant dean of external affairs for Gonzaga Law at (509) 313-6121.