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 The Columbus School of Law at Catholic University

 

L-R: Hon. Scott W. Stucky; Stephen Landman, 2D; Chief Judge Andrew Effron;
Angela Desaulniers, 2D; Hon. James E. Baker.

 

CUA Students Present Briefs and Oral Arguments before the
United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces

Second year law student Angela Desaulniers made her first appearance as a courtroom advocate on March 18 when she presented oral arguments before the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces in the case of United States v. Czachorowski.

 

The case was litigated in the Walter S. Slowinski courtroom of the Columbus School of Law as a part of the court’s "Project Outreach," an initiative undertaken several years ago to educate the public about the workings of the military justice system. The approach calls for the court to hear a portion of its caseload on the road, as it were, so that law students and others can observe and learn from the live proceedings.

 

The case involved a Navy lieutenant who, contrary to his plea, was found guilty of an indecent act upon his four year old daughter. The child did not testify at the trial but the trial court admitted, over defense objection, “residual hearsay” statements, testified to by her mother and maternal grandparents. The defense challenged the decision to admit the testimony on three grounds.

 

Catholic University’s Military and National Security Law Students Association submitted an amicus brief in the case. It was prepared by first year students Bill Holland and Kate Collins and second year students Angela Desaulniers and Steven Landman. 

 

At the conclusion of the official proceedings, the judges took questions from the audience. They also complimented Desaulniers on her adept handling of the oral arguments.