How to Attend a Court Trial
Have you ever read about a court trial in your area and wanted to attend? Well, for the most part, you can! Most court trials are public. This means that although the court has rules and restrictions, members of the public usually have a right to be there once proceedings get underway. The public may be excluded for motions and jury selection in high profile cases, but for the most part the public is welcome into local, county and state courtrooms.
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Things You'll Need
- You will need to dress nicely.
- Men, wear a necktie.
- Ladies, wear hosiery.
- Bring identification.
Instructions
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Get to the Court on Time!
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The first thing to do is to search the name of the courthouse on the website. Most court systems have a presence on the world wide web, and you are easily able to look up their rules and regulations. If you don't see anything pertaining specifically to the public, then you can assume that the public is welcome.
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Never assume proceedings involving juveniles are public. In fact, these proceedings are usually closed to the public. Just like newspapers cannot print the name of juveniles involved in a crime, the public also does not have a right to witness juveniles in court. This is not the case once individuals reach the age of majority, however, which in the United States is 18. Once a defendant is 18 years old, their legal information is public.
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To find out the date and time of the first day of a high profile case, check in your local news media. If the information is not available there, call the court officer. Courts usually operate on a business schedule, and are underway about 9 a.m., with lunch at noon and end of the day by 4:30 p.m. Be prepared to pass through security when you get to the courthouse, including having your bag xrayed, and emptying your pockets before you pass through a metal detector. You should carry identification, just in case, but you likely won't be asked for it. Ask the court personnel at the security checkpoint which courtroom the trial you want to attend is in.
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Dress as if you are going to a meeting, or to see your own lawyer. There is no need to wear a suit, but men should wear a tie and women should wear stockings. If you arrive after the trial is underway, enter very quietly and only if there are no signs prohibiting you from doing so. Sometimes, during opening and closing statements no one can enter or leave the court. The bailiffs are court staff who run the court room, they will let you know if you are not allowed to come in for a particular amount of time, but should also let you know when that time is passed and assist you in gaining access to the courtroom.
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Once inside, sit quietly, don't talk to your neighbor, don't bring food or water in with you and obey the bailiffs instructions. For example, you will need to stand each time the judge enters or exits, as well as members of the jury. Armed with this article and common sense, you can get a front row seat to seeing the inner workings of the court system.
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Tips & Warnings
Remember!
Don't bring in food or drink to the courtroom.
