How to Attend a Criminal Trial

By eHow Legal Editor

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Criminal trials and court proceedings are open to the public, unless the presiding judge orders otherwise. If you are interested in a particular case, or if you want to attend a criminal trial involving someone you know, follow these steps to attend the court proceedings.

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Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Step1

Learn the date, time and location of the court proceeding you wish to attend. You can get this information from the defendant if you are acquainted with him or her, but all court proceedings are a matter of public record. To find out where and when the criminal trial is being held, check with your local court clerk's office or its equivalent.

Step2

Be on time if possible. If you are late or must leave early, make your entrance or exit as quiet as possible, and don't disturb the court.

Step3

Do not disrupt the trial by speaking out loud to other people or commenting on the proceedings. The judge or bailiff might ask you to leave the courtroom, and you may be held in contempt of court (and fined or possibly jailed) if your disruption is of a serious or continued nature.

Step4

Remember that your employer is not obligated to give you time off to attend a court proceeding where your presence is not necessary to the trial or case in question. All costs incurred will be at your own expense.

Step5

Know that crime victims have the right to attend the trial of the accused. Visit the relevant U.S. Department of Justice Web page (see the Resources section below), or its equivalent in your country, for further information.

Step6

Remember that you are also permitted to attend the sentencing hearing following the trial, if the accused is found guilty of the crime.

Tips & Warnings

As a citizen, you have the right to attend any court proceedings that are not closed to the public by the presiding judge. Closing the courtroom is a step taken only in high-profile cases likely to draw a great deal of interest from the public. You don't need to be acquainted with anyone involved in the case to attend a criminal trial.
The criminal trial of a person accused of a violent crime will present graphic details of the violation to the court. You will see potentially upsetting details if you attend such a criminal trial.