Fifth Circuit Hears High-Profile Appeals at UH Law Center Bringing Federal Courtroom to Campus
A three-judge panel from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in seven cases at the University of Houston Law Center. L to R: University of Houston Provost Diane Z. Chase, UH General Counsel Dona H. Cornell, Judge James E. Graves Jr., Chief Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod, and Judge Patrick E. Higginbotham with UH Law Dean Leonard M. Baynes.
March 18, 2026 — The University of Houston Law Center welcomed students, faculty, staff, alumni, prospective law students, and members of the public in early March for a rare opportunity to see the federal appeals process unfold in real time as the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held two days of oral arguments in the Danny M. Sheena Courtroom at the John M. O’Quinn Law Building.
For the UH Law Center community, the visit offered more than a chance to observe high-level advocacy. It transformed the Law Center into a working federal courtroom and gave those in attendance an up-close look at how appellate judges question attorneys, analyze complex legal issues, and apply the rule of law.
Chief Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod, Judge Patrick E. Higginbotham, and Judge James E. Graves Jr. presided over seven appeals spanning criminal law, constitutional issues, civil rights claims, employment disputes, insurance regulation, and federal whistleblower protections. Throughout the two-day visit, the judges also connected with the UH Law Center community through conversations with faculty, student leaders, alumni, law school applicants, and participants in the Law Center’s Pre-Law Pipeline Programs.
Before the second day’s docket began, Chief Judge Elrod explained why the court occasionally sits at law schools.
“We try to sit in law schools occasionally to be more accessible to the community,” she said. “It is good to see the rule of law in action, especially for these students. Maybe one day one of you will be sitting up here.”
A Front-Row Seat to Appellate Advocacy
For UH Law Center students, the proceedings brought to life concepts they typically encounter only in textbooks and classrooms.
“It was a great opportunity to see the litigation in action,” said Noah Fishman, 1L. “It’s something we learn about, hear about, and read about a lot, but it’s not something that we get the opportunity to see every day.”
For many students, the most valuable lesson came from watching the interaction between the judges and advocates.
“The back and forth between the judges and attorneys was very interesting to see,” said Henry Marlow, 1L. “An attorney could be in the middle of an argument, but as soon as the judge asked a question, which may not even be related to what they were saying, they had to stop everything, answer the question, and move back.”
Jack Lopez, another 1L, said the judges appeared mindful of the educational setting.
“Because we’re at the Law Center, the judges crafted more of a teaching environment,” he said. “They gave attorneys extra time to articulate their argument in a way we could understand and learn from.”
Beyond the Bench
The Fifth Circuit’s visit extended beyond oral arguments and created opportunities for members of the UH Law Center community to engage with the judges in more personal settings.
During lunch with faculty, UH Law Center Dean Leonard M. Baynes expressed gratitude to the judges for bringing the federal appellate process directly to campus.
“Thank you for blessing us with this opportunity for our students, faculty, and staff to see some great lawyering and great judging,” Baynes said. “They brought the rule of law out of the textbook and into a real courtroom setting where our students could observe how these judges question attorneys and analyze these complex legal issues.”
Chief Judge Elrod emphasized that visibility matters to strengthen public trust in the legal system.
“One of the most important things about the rule of law in America is that people see it in action and see how it works,” she said. “It is so important that people can see that when you have these problems you can be heard, and while you may not win … you will have your day in court.”
At a separate lunch with law student leaders, the judges offered advice on clerkships, mentorship, and professional growth.
“I encourage you not to limit yourself to judges who you think match your jurisprudence,” Elrod said. “It’s more important that you clerk for someone that you can learn from.”
Judge Graves also discussed the qualities judges most value in clerks, including honesty, diligence, and strong legal research skills.
Encouraging Future Lawyers
The visit also included a panel discussion with admitted students and student participants from the Law Center’s Pre-Law Pipeline Programs, giving aspiring lawyers the opportunity to hear directly from members of the federal judiciary.
Judge Higginbotham encouraged students to focus on doing the work in front of them to the best of their ability.
“Do the tasks before you, and do them the best that you can,” he said. “You can’t predict the significance of what you do, but you have a lot of control over the actions you take.”
Closing the event, Baynes again thanked the judges and encouraged the aspiring lawyers in attendance.
“We want to make sure that you’re able to pursue your dreams and have opportunities like this one to meet truly influential people,” he said. “We are so thankful that the judges are here to show you that judges, lawyers, and people from all walks of life can obtain their dreams.”
Click on our Flickr Gallery to see more photos from the event.
