Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky聽University will unveil a new, state-of-the-art courtroom later this year.
Major funding for the courtroom being constructed on the聽first floor of Nunn Hall is being provided by the Chase College Foundation,聽which was established in 1954 when Chase was an independent law school in聽Cincinnati and which continues to support the college through the 71-year-old聽legacy fund it manages. Funding for specific features of the courtroom, such as聽the judicial bench, counsel tables and jury room, is being provided by alumni聽and friends of the college through a designated giving campaign.
When completed, the courtroom will be known as the Chase聽College Foundation Courtroom. Individuals鈥 designated donations will be聽acknowledged on a donor recognition panel.
鈥淐hase聽students will benefit from a new, state-of-the-art courtroom because the聽students will now have had the opportunity to take a trial advocacy class or聽participate in a mock trial program where the type of technology available in聽many 21st century courtrooms will be available to them,鈥 says Professor Jack聽Harrison, director of the Center for Excellence in Advocacy. 鈥淎lso, with a聽modern, sophisticated courtroom available, the law school will be able to host聽actual trials where judges are willing to do a trial setting in the new聽courtroom.鈥 聽
In addition to use by students, the courtroom will be available聽for traveling sessions of the Supreme Court of Kentucky, the Kentucky Court of聽Appeals, commonwealth and federal trial and appellate courts, and community聽groups.
The courtroom will have all the technology, ancillary spaces聽and furnishings of a modern courtroom. Most of it will be funded by聽contributions from alumni and friends of the college. Among designated gifts are聽funding for each of 100 gallery chairs ($1,000 individually), 12 jurors chairs聽($10,000 each), and the jury box ($100,000).
Questions about giving opportunities can be directed to聽David MacKnight, associate dean for advancement, at (859) 572-5276 or macknightd1@nku.edu.
