9th Circuit Court of Appeals schedules special sitting in Guam

SAN FRANCISCO—The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has scheduled a special session next week in the U.S. Territory of Guam.

The court will hear oral arguments on August 27, 2014, at the U.S. District Court in Hagåtña. The proceedings will begin at 10am in the 4th floor courtroom of the federal courthouse, 520 West Soledad Avenue. A photo ID will be required for access to proceedings.

A three-judge panel consisting of Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Alex Kozinski of Pasadena,

California, Senior Circuit Judge Mary M. Schroeder of Phoenix, and Circuit Judge N. Randy Smith of Pocatello, Idaho, will consider appeals of decisions by the U.S. district courts for the districts of Guam and Northern Mariana Islands. Cases on the docket are:

United States v. Diaz in which Melvin Diaz appeals his jury conviction and sentence for

traveling with intent to engage in sexual activity with a minor. Case 12-10579

Davis v. Guam in which Arnold Davis, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, appeals from the Guam district court’s dismissal of his action alleging discrimination in the voting process by Guam and by Guam officials in violation of the

Voting Rights Act of 1965. Case 13-15199

Guam Industrial Services v. Zurich American Insurance Company in which Guam Industrial Services, Inc., appeals the Guam district court’s judgment in favor of Zurich

American Insurance Company and Starr Indemnity and Liability Company in Guam’s insurance coverage action arising from the sinking of a drydock it owned. Case 13-17005

After the hearings, the panel will meet informally with officials from the Guam Bar Association and other local attorneys. The panel also will meet informally with presenters of the upcoming 2014 Guam District Conference which will be held Aug. 28 at the Hilton in Tumon Bay.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals hears appeals of cases decided by executive branch agencies and federal trial courts in nine western states, the U.S. Territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. The court normally meets monthly in Seattle, San Francisco and Pasadena, California; every other month in Portland, Oregon; three times per year in Honolulu, Hawaii; and twice a year in Anchorage, Alaska. A complete schedule of cases is available online at http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov. (PR)