TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama Supreme Court will hear oral arguments at The University of Alabama School of Law on Thursday, Nov. 18. The arguments will be from 9 a.m.-noon in Room 287/288 of the Law School.

The court will hear three cases. The first case, McGriff v. Alabama, is a capital case. The issues concern whether the trial judge committed error under Ring v. Arizona, 536 U.S. 584 (2002), or Caldwell v. Mississippi, 472 U.S. 320 (1985), and whether the jury instructions were flawed on the issues of including lesser offenses and an instruction on “heat of passion” as a mitigating factor.

The second and third cases are workers' compensation cases. Flint Construction Co. v. Hall deals with whether an Alabama court had jurisdiction over the worker's retaliatory discharge claim and, if the court had jurisdiction, whether Georgia or Alabama law applied. Webb Wheel Products, Inc. v. Hanvey concerns whether a retaliatory discharge claim was proper before the trial court, whether the award of $400,000 in punitive damages was supported by the evidence and was constitutional, and whether it was proper to award lost wages and damages for emotional distress.

Court will convene at 9 a.m. The first few minutes are set aside for welcome by school and local officials. Pictures may be taken by the media and others during this time and up to the time of the call of the docket. Pictures may also be taken after the call of the docket, without a flash or extra lighting.

Entrance and exit is from the second floor of the Law Center. Spectators may enter and depart at 9 a.m. and during recess between cases, at approximately 10:30 a.m., but not during the arguments.