Ninth Circuit at Gates Hall

On Nov. 20, the University of Washington School of Law had the honor for the second consecutive academic year of hosting a live viewing of oral arguments before circuit-level judges.

In her welcoming remarks, Toni Rembe Dean Tamara F. Lawson recalled another court, the Washington Supreme Court, and its “articulated interest in experiential learning,” a priority taking place in real-time in William H. Gates Hall, where Room 133 was filled to capacity.

Students observed the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in person inside the Toni C. Rembe Appellate Courtroom. The special sitting was also livestreamed to the public.

The U.S. Court of Appeals hears appeals of cases decided by certain executive branch agencies and federal trial courts in nine western states and two Pacific Island jurisdictions. The sitting at UW Law was part of their week-long sitting at the William K. Nakamura U.S. Courthouse in Seattle.

“The oral arguments brought to life the complexity of the cases and doctrine we study in the classroom,” said Charles I. Stone Professor of Law Elizabeth Porter, who serves as co-director of the School’s Appellate Advocacy Clinic alongside Professor from Practice Jeff Feldman. “During the Ninth Circuit's sitting at UW Law, students had the opportunity to learn by watching experienced advocates face tough questioning on topics from conspiracy convictions to environmental regulation of toxic chemicals.”

Senior Circuit Judge M. Margaret McKeown, Circuit Judge Ronald M. Gould and Circuit Judge Holly A. Thomas heard oral arguments on three cases:

• USA v. Nomee, an appeal from denial of suppression motion in a case in which the defendant entered a conditional guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Case No. 23-4262
• USA v. Cox, an appeal from the denial of a 28 U.S.C. § 2255 motion seeking to set aside a conviction for conspiracy to murder federal officers and employees. Case No. 23-2713
• USA v. Multistar Industries, Inc., an appeal of a judgment in favor of the United States in the Environmental Protection Agency’s civil action against Multistar Industries, Inc., asserting violations of the Clean Air Act and failure to comply with the requirements of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act. Case No. 23-3765

Last November, Judge McKeown said, “The Ninth Circuit endeavors to get out to law schools when we can,” acknowledging William H. Gates Hall as a “fantastic building.” She further said, “We think it’s a good opportunity for us to see the future lawyers and it makes us very, very encouraged about the future of the legal profession when we meet all of you.”

The court meets monthly in San Francisco and Pasadena, California; with regular sittings in Seattle and Portland, Oregon; as well as special sittings at other federal courthouses in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Honolulu and Anchorage, Alaska.

Photo Gallery

Visit the photo gallery or watch the slideshow below.