Court Experience Papers

COURTROOM EXPERIENCES

THE COURTROOM EXPERIENCE ASSIGNMENT

This assignment is designed to provide the student with a first-hand opportunity to observe the vital legal processes within the American Criminal Justice system. Eventually, all persons involved in the criminal justice system inevitably have contact with the court system. Police officers and probation / parole officers may expect that court testimony will be a routine part of their duties. Corrections officers and youth-care workers may expect to testify in the event of critical incidents such as escapes, assaults or suicides, or in civil lawsuits that are all too common in this field.

The Assignment:

You are to observe the proceedings in two different kinds of courts and write an accounting of your observations and experiences. Examples of two different kinds of courts include:
1) State District Court & State Circuit Court
2) State District Court & Federal District Court
3) Probate Court & State Circuit Court
4) State Circuit Court & Federal District Court

These are only examples and are not intended to be limiting. You are free to observe any different combination, if you prefer. If you have any questions, please ask!!!

Class time will be allocated for your observations, but you are free to conduct your observations at any time that you find convenient during court hours.

The Courthouse:

Most courts now have a metal detector and an armed officer at the entrance. Leave all metallic objects except your keys locked in your vehicle. This includes pagers, cell phones and other electronic devices, as they contain batteries. It is also recommended that you leave cigarettes, lighters and foil-wrapped candies in your vehicle. Leaving these items in your vehicle will expedite your processing into the courthouse.

All adult courtrooms are public places, where any person is free to observe, pursuant to the 6th Amendment. Though it is rare, occasionally, a judge or an attorney may ask your business with the court. If asked, respectfully reply that you are a criminal justice student observing the courtroom proceedings for a class project.

Courtroom Etiquette:

Students are expected to conduct themselves within the confines of proper courtroom etiquette at all times. Proper etiquette includes (but is not limited to):

Remove your hat in the courtroom
Do not chew gum, eat, drink, or engage in other distracting behaviors
Do not talk in the courtroom
Stand when the judge enters or leaves the room, or when instructed by any officer of the court
Wear neat and businesslike clothing
No pagers, cell phones or other devices that may disrupt the courtroom proceedings
Enter and leave the courtroom quietly and discreetly
Refer to the judge as “Your Honor” and attorneys or officers as “Sir” or “Ma’am”, and speak respectfully
Do not sit near prisoners, or attempt to have contact with them (even if you know them)

COURTROOM EXPERIENCE WRITTEN ACCOUNTS CRITERIA

Written accounts of your two courtroom experiences must be written. The accounts should be presented as two separate papers. These papers combined will constitute 30% of your overall grade. The papers are due at the beginning of class, on the date indicated. The following information provides the criteria for writing the court-room experience accounts. Ask the instructor if you have questions! Failure to follow directions will result in a loss of points.

NO LATE PAPERS will be accepted; handwritten papers will not be accepted.

General Formatting Instructions:

A cover page should include the precise name and location of the court you observed (i.e. 74th District Court in Bay City), the name of the presiding judge, the nature of the proceedings you observed, and the date and time the proceedings you observed occurred. It should also include your name and the date of submission.

Each paper must be a minimum of 2 typewritten pages of of text; one-half or three-quarters of a page does NOT constitute a “full page”.. In most cases, more than 2 pages will be required to render a quality paper with strong content. Photos, charts, graphs, flyers, etc. do not count as text, but are strongly encouraged to augment the paper.

The text must be double-spaced, with one-inch (1”) top, side, and bottom margins. Note: this page has 1” margins. Hold it against yours to check your margins—because I will!

The font may be no larger than 12 point and should be in standard Times New Roman, Courier New, Arial or standard typeface if using a typewriter. Do not type the text of your paper in boldface type, except to emphasize specific words or phrases. Type only in black type.

Paragraphs should be indented ½” (five spaces on a typewriter). Since the paper is double-spaced, do NOT leave extra spaces between paragraphs.

Papers will be graded on content and format, as well as neatness, spelling, punctuation, proper usage of the English language. The ability to write well and to utilize available resources is an important skill for an Officer.

NO LATE PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED!!! (Early papers will be accepted at any time and will receive 5 bonus points). Extra efforts that exceed requirements may warrant special consideration.

Content:

These papers should subjective assessment, analysis, and synopsis of what you observed in the court-room. In your discussion, you should include your own opinions of what you observed, as well as how you feel it pertains to what you have learned about the courts in your readings and from lecture, and how this experience will assist you with your career plans.