TWU students witness oral arguments at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals

TWU Associate Professor of Political Science Parker R. Hevron, PhD, and the Center for Women in Politics & Public Policy arranged for political science students to visit the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth on Nov. 19 to watch oral arguments and receive a tour. The students were invited to the courthouse on behalf of Justice Lee Gabriel, who is a member of The Jane Nelson Institute for Women’s Leadership Advisory Council and a Minerva Fellow.

Justice Gabriel was appointed as the first district judge of the 367th District Court in Denton County and presided in that general jurisdiction for more than 20 years. In 2010, Governor Rick Perry appointed her to the position of justice, Place 7 of the Second Court of Appeals of Texas.

“Watching the oral arguments take place at the Second Court of Appeals in Fort Worth allowed us to be immersed in an environment where legal arguments occur regularly,” said Lincy Georgekutty, political science/biology double major and Honors Program member. “We watched as the justices defended standing precedent, and the appellant asserted the merits of his appeal. After the oral arguments, Justice Gabriel gave us a tour of her chambers and explained her daily routine of reading appellate briefs and sitting for oral arguments.”

Justice Gabriel also answer questions from the students and offered her advice on being a woman in the legal field.