Can you just go to a courthouse and watch trials and stuff?
- Thread starter episodic
- Start date
Most are open and you can just walk in. If it is closed there will be a guard/cop at the front door.
Small claims is the best bet if you want to see something good. Quick, dirty, and just all round fun.
Now if you want to see the "legal system" at work then find a good jury trial and watch that.
Small claims is the best bet if you want to see something good. Quick, dirty, and just all round fun.
Now if you want to see the "legal system" at work then find a good jury trial and watch that.
FallenHero
Diamond Member
- Jan 2, 2006
- 5,659
- 0
- 0
Yes. There are actually regulars at the courthouse that do this almost every day. Mainly retired people who enjoy the legal system. They probably know more about what is going on then some of the lawyers that work there.
I do agree with Marlin, the small claims courts where they represent themselves is always fun to watch, especially after watching a decent attorney talk. The difference is night and day.
I do agree with Marlin, the small claims courts where they represent themselves is always fun to watch, especially after watching a decent attorney talk. The difference is night and day.
It's all fun and games until parents show up to root on their kids like some kinda soccer game. :laugh:
Demon-Xanth
Lifer
- Feb 15, 2000
- 20,551
- 2
- 81
Yes, unless the case is closed to the public (e.g. if a minor is being tried).
Etiquette is simple. Sit down and shut up. Stand up when everyone else does (e.g. when the judge enters). Don't take pictures and turn off your cellphone.
They usually post a list of cases and what courtroom the trial is in. You can always ask a guard or worker, and they can point you toward the more interesting stuff. Try to find out in advance when an interesting trial is taking place.
Remember to leave your weapons at home. Courthouses usually have metal detectors.
You can even go see a U.S. Supreme Court case.
For fun (not really), go watch bankruptcy hearings. Some people are really stupid, some are really awful, and some are really unlucky.
If you go to small claims court, often the real action is out in the hall, where people are trying to come to an agreement before the court hearing begins.
If you go to small claims court, often the real action is out in the hall, where people are trying to come to an agreement before the court hearing begins.
rofl, how funny would it be if when it was time for the defendant's attorney to cross examine, the crowd goes 'DE-FENSE' clap clap clap, 'DE-FENSE' clap clap clap.
its fun...some people act all tough and bad ass until the get in front of a judge and piss their pants.
Don Vito Corleone
Elite
- Feb 10, 2000
- 30,029
- 67
- 91
Some proceedings (especially those involving minors) are closed, but generally trials are open to the public. When I was in the AF I tried a horrific child molestation case (it was a partial guilty plea, so the whole thing was only a couple of days long), and there was one spectator who nobody recognized. That is unusual in the military, and particularly because of the nature of the case. It turned out to be a retiree who came in to get a will done during Legal Assistance hours, and saw a trial was going on and stayed.
yes but isnt the supreme courst chamber relatively small? And for most events you have to get a ticket in advance? I seem to remember some of themore popular hearings people had to enter a lottery to get a chance to sit in and watch.
Well most SC cases are VERY boring. Very few of their cases are major news events. A lot of bank/finance type stuff.
I went to court twice this year, once for myself and once for my gf. Both times I ended up staying after the cases that I had interest in just to watch, its really entertaining.
BoomerD
No Lifer
- Feb 26, 2006
- 65,627
- 14,019
- 146
Usually...yes. Doors should always be closed, not because the courtroom is closed to the public, but to keep noises from the corridor from interrupting the procedings.
There may be an occasional court proceeding that is closed to the public...but those are few and far between.
I'm sitting on a jury right now. There are closed proceedings and open proceedings. For my case, pretty much everything that the jury is allowed to listen to, the public can as well. I've noticed the victim's family there every day as well as the mother of one of the 8 year old witnesses. There's a lot of stuff that happens behind closed doors and I notice that the gallery is always empty for that, except for maybe some random lawyers or legal aides.
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