SIERRA VISTA — The Arizona Supreme Court will hear arguments at a high school here Wednesday in two cases, including that of a man charged with soliciting sex over the Internet with a girl he thought was 13 years old.
It will be the first time since 1998 that the high court will hear arguments in actual cases while seated in Cochise County.
"It is important for the judicial branch to reach out to all Arizona residents, giving them the opportunity to see the Supreme Court at work," said Chief Justice Ruth V. McGregor.
Following the arguments at Buena High School, the justices will hold an informal question-and-answer session to give local residents a chance to learn about courtroom proceedings and how Arizona's judicial system works.
The first case involves an appeal by Jeremy Mejak, who was arrested in 2003 on one count of luring a minor for sexual exploitation.
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Authorities say Mejak used the Internet to contact who he thought was a 13-year-old girl and arrange to meet her for sex.
But when Mejak arrived at the agreed-upon location, he learned he had been communicating with a TV news reporter.
Mejak was captured on video for the reporter's story and was arrested after the tape was turned over to police. He was charged with one count of luring a minor for sexual exploitation.
According to Arizona law, it is not a defense to the charge if the child in question is, in fact, a police officer posing as a minor. Mejak argued that the "child" was not a police officer but a news reporter.
A trial court denied a motion to drop the charge and the state Appeals Court declined jurisdiction, sending the case to the Supreme Court.
The second case to be heard Wednesday involves a dispute between a lawyer and his former firm over how much compensation he was due upon leaving the partnership.
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