Court of Appeals to visit three college campuses this fall

Court of Appeals to visit three college campuses this fall

October 8, 2026

The Mississippi Court of Appeals will convene on three college campuses in October and November.

The Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments in appeals on Oct. 15 at the University of Mississippi School of Law, on Oct. 22 at Rust College, and on Nov. 12 at Mississippi State University.

Called Court on the Road, the campus visits have been a part of the court’s regular calendar since 2005. The Court of Appeals by statute can convene and hear cases away from the court’s Jackson courtroom. Each fall and spring, the Court of Appeals schedules oral arguments on college campuses and occasionally at other locations as a teaching tool to give students and the public opportunities to watch proceedings in cases on appeal. Court on the Road offers a unique learning experience for students with an interest in law, government, journalism and a variety of other fields.

A three-judge panel will hear each case. In each case, attorneys for both sides will have 30 minutes to make their arguments and answer questions from the judges. Judges will talk with students after each oral argument and answer students’ questions, although they won’t talk about the pending cases.

People wishing to watch an oral argument are asked to be seated 15 minutes before a proceeding is scheduled to begin.

Here are the oral argument schedule and case details: On Oct. 15 at 1:30 p.m., Court of Appeals judges will convene in Oxford at the Robert C.

Khayat Law Center, 481 Chucky Mullins Drive. The proceedings will be conducted in Moot Court I, Room 2035.

The case on appeal is Chance Fabian Jones v. State of Mississippi, cause number 2025-KA- 0875-COA. Jones was convicted of capital murder in Wayne County Circuit Court for the Oct. 3, 2022, shooting death of his former girlfriend, Joslin Napier, during a break-in at her home.

Testimony showed that Jones during their on-and-off relationship had beaten Napier on multiple occasions, stalked her and threatened to kill her. Circuit Judge Charles Wright sentenced Jones to life in prison without parole.

The appellant’s brief filed on behalf of Jones is at this link: https://www.courts.ms.gov/appellatecourts/docket/sendPDF.php?f=web0001.COA.2025-KA-875 .125654.0.pdf&c=99834&a=N&s=2.

The appellee’s brief filed on behalf of the State of Mississippi is at this link: https://www.courts.ms.gov/appellatecourts/docket/sendPDF.php?f=web0001.COA.2025-KA-875 .129322.0.pdf&c=99834&a=N&s=2.

On Oct. 22 at 11 a.m., the Court of Appeals will convene in Holly Springs at the Doxey Auditorium at 150 Rust Avenue.

The case on appeal is Marco Brown v. State of Mississippi, cause number 2025-KA-0919.

Brown was convicted in Oktibbeha County Circuit Court of first-degree murder in the April 12, 2023, death of Imia Williams. Testimony showed that Williams died from blunt force injuries and strangulation. Circuit Judge Michelle Easterling sentenced Brown to life in prison at the end of a trial on April 30, 2025.

The appellant’s brief filed on behalf of Brown is at this link: https://courts.ms.gov/appellatecourts/docket/sendPDF.php?f=web0001.COA.2025-KA-919.1261 18.0.pdf&c=99879&a=N&s=2.

The appellee’s brief on behalf of the State of Mississippi is at this link: https://courts.ms.gov/appellatecourts/docket/sendPDF.php?f=web0001.COA.2025-KA-919.1288 76.0.pdf&c=99879&a=N&s=2.

On Nov. 12 at 11 a.m., the Court of Appeals will convene in Starkville at 600 Russell Street in the Mill Conference Center, Ballroom M, the Cleveland Gallery and Pines Conference Room.

The case on appeal is Brandon Landfair v. State of Mississippi, cause number 2025-KA- 0726. Landfair was convicted in Holmes County Circuit Court of conspiracy to commit murder and the lesser included offense of manslaughter in the Sept. 28, 2018, shooting death of Deverius White on Dog Pen Road in Durant. Circuit Judge Jannie Lewis-Blackmon sentenced Landfair to 40 years in prison after a trial concluded on Sept. 27, 2024.

The appellant’s brief on behalf of Landfair is at this link: https://www.courts.ms.gov/appellatecourts/docket/sendPDF.php?f=web0001.COA.2025-KA-726 .125814.0.pdf&c=99670&a=N&s=2.

The appellee’s brief on behalf of the State of Mississippi is at this link: https://www.courts.ms.gov/appellatecourts/docket/sendPDF.php?f=web0001.COA.2025-KA-726 .128156.0.pdf&c=99670&a=N&s=2.

Any media organization which may wish to photograph or videotape the arguments must file a Camera Coverage Notice. Camera Coverage Notices should be directed to Clerk of the Court Jeremy Whitmire, e-mail jwhitmire@courts.ms.gov, and to Assistant Court Administrator Camille Henick Evans, e-mail cevans@courts.ms.gov. A Camera Coverage Notice form is at this link: https://courts.ms.gov/news/forms/camnotice.pdf.

The oral arguments will not be broadcast via the court’s Internet website, since the Court of Appeals is convening in special sessions away from its camera-equipped courtroom.

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