Chase College of Law is Entering New Courtroom Era

Beginning later this year, Salmon P. Chase College of Law students will be able to be in court without leaving the college’s home in Nunn Hall on the Northern Kentucky University campus.

That is when a new courtroom, backed by major funding from the independent Chase College Foundation and donations from alumni and other donors, is scheduled to be opened for use in mock trials and traveling sessions of commonwealth and federal courts.

Primary funding for the courtroom nearing completion on the first floor of Nunn Hall is being provided by the Chase College Foundation, which was established in 1954 when Chase was an independent law school in Cincinnati and which continues to support the college through the 70-year-old legacy fund it manages. Funding for specific courtroom features, such as the judicial bench, counsel tables and jury room, is being provided by alumni and friends of the college through a designated giving campaign.

When the courtroom is completed, it will be known as the Chase College Foundation Courtroom, with individuals’ designated donations acknowledged on a donor recognition panel.

“Chase students will benefit from a new, state-of-the-art courtroom because the students will now have had the opportunity to take a trial advocacy class or participate in a mock trial program where the type of technology available in many 21st century courtrooms will be available to them,” says Professor Jack Harrison, the longtime coordinator of student mock trial teams. “Also, with a modern, sophisticated courtroom available, the law school will be able to host actual trials where judges are willing to do a trial setting in the new courtroom.”  

In addition to use by students, the courtroom will be available for sessions of the Supreme Court of Kentucky, the Kentucky Court of Appeals (which convened at Chase a year ago), commonwealth and federal trial and appellate courts, and community groups.

The new courtroom will replace one that had become outdated by advances in technology and its limited assembly spaces. Within it will be all the technology, ancillary spaces and furnishings of a modern courtroom. Most of those appointments are being funded by contributions from alumni and friends of the college. In addition to the Chase College Foundation, donations are funding aspects such as the judicial bench, counsel tables, jury box, and jury and gallery chairs.

• Questions about remaining opportunities to contribute to the courtroom project can be directed to David MacKnight, associate dean for advancement, at macknightd1@nku.edu.