Court of Appeals invites public to April 9 session at DePauw

Thursday, April 5, 2018

In what has become an annual tradition, the Indiana Court of Appeals will come to campus of DePauw University to conduct oral arguments in a case.

The presentations, which are open to the public, are scheduled to take place in the Inn at DePauw’s Social Center on Monday, April 9, beginning at 10:20 a.m.

A three-judge panel will hear arguments in the case of Scott Randall v. State of Indiana (49A02-1708-CR-1779).

It marks the 13th time in the last 14 years that the Court of Appeals has come to DePauw. Normal courtroom rules of decorum will apply.

At the conclusion of the oral arguments, the judges plan to answer questions from the audience, although they must refrain from discussing the particular case being considered.

The Marion County case being argued stems from an incident occurring the evening of July 29, 2016.

Special Deputy Ashley Rose was patrolling the St. Vincent Hospital parking lot at Indianapolis when he saw a parked car with the driver’s door open and a man leaning over the steering wheel. Concerned for the man’s safety, Deputy Rose activated his overhead lights and pulled in behind the car. The man, later identified as Scott Randall, immediately got out of his car and approached the patrol car.

The deputy ordered Randall to return to his own vehicle, and when Rose approached Randall’s vehicle, he noticed a piece of folded tin foil on the dash which aroused his suspicion and caused him to question Randall without advising him of his Miranda rights. Randall admitted to having a marijuana pipe and drugs in the driver’s door pocket.

The state charged Randall with possession of methamphetamine, a Level 6 felony, and possession of paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor. Randall filed a motion to suppress, which the trial denied.

Upon appeal, Randall argues the trial court erroneously applied the “community caretaking exception” in ruling upon his motion.

The three-judge panel conducting the oral arguments is comprised of Judges Margret G. Robb, the first woman to serve as chief judge of the Indiana Court of Appeals; Terry A. Crone, a 1974 graduate of DePauw; and Robert Altice Jr.

The Court of Appeals hears several oral arguments each year at locations around the state to enable citizens to learn about the judicial branch.

DePauw’s Department of Political Science is again hosting the event.

Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: