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Cal. Supreme Court Hearing Arguments at UC Davis Oct. 3

By Robyn Hagan Cain on October 02, 2012 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

The California Supreme Court will hold a special outreach session of oral arguments at the UC Davis School of Law on Wednesday, October 3.

Oral arguments will begin in the new Kalmanovitz Appellate Courtroom in Martin Luther King, Jr. Hall at 10 a.m.

The morning session will begin with introductory remarks and a Q&A session with the state's justices, followed by oral argument in Ralphs Grocery Co. v. United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 8. In that case, the court will decide whether a privately-owned sidewalk in front of the entrance to a supermarket is a public forum under the California Constitution's liberty-of-speech provision.

The court will determine whether state law protects labor picketing of a targeted business, and whether such protection violates the federal Constitution's equal protection guarantee by giving speech about labor disputes greater protection than speech on other topics.

Oral arguments will resume Wednesday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. as the state Supreme Court hears two more cases:

  • Nalwa (Smriti) v. Cedar Fair, L.P. Examining whether an amusement park guest can sue the park for her injuries resulting from a bumper car ride, or if the suit is barred under the "primary assumption of the risk" doctrine known.
  • Sargon Enterprises, Inc. v. University of Southern California et al. Determining under what circumstances, if any, a trial court may exclude expert testimony regarding lost profits, and whether the trial court properly did so in this case.

"The special session will provide a unique educational opportunity for both law school and local high school students to observe the Supreme Court in action as it hears oral arguments in three cases of major statewide importance," Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye said in a press release.

Seating in the courtroom is very limited, but proceedings will be available to all interested students and visitors in overflow classrooms and video screens throughout King Hall.

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