View Full Version : A few questions about Court
Right Ive always wanted to know about this, cos you see it in soaps all the time
Are there some court cases where you can actually just go in and watch?
Most court cases are open to the public, that is why Blanche is always in there. I have been to see a couple myself too, but that was for research, not to keep warm or because I was being nosy. :D
So you could just go and you know like make a day of it and stuff :rotfl:
Yep, take some sarnies and a thermos and have a lovely day :)
WOW! I mean I always thought for some reason only friends and family could go, but then again its not like you buy a ticket or anyway!
The people you must see!
DaVeyWaVey
26-11-2008, 20:26
I remember going to the magistrates court on my work experience with a local newspaper.. it really opened my eyes to reality :eek: and it's weird seeing the people accused... I was actually sitting opposite a boy my age charged with GBH.. as I was waiting to go in with the reporters and he was waiting to go in to face the charge against him.
The same as divorce courts, you can go and sit and see who is getting divorced. Even as observer you have to stand up when the judge enters and leaves the court room. Can be upsetting if witnesses are stressed out. :(
It must be scary, I mean Im gonna sound really childish here, but is it really like on the telly? I mean it must be more serious in reality
Not necessary. But it must be scary for the accused and the witnesses. I was a witness once after an encounter with a 'flasher' and I had to sit in the middle of the court room with the accused to my left - not a pleasant experience having to tell the judge what happened and what I had seen :o I was only 19.
Aww Ive never been in court, so the only views I have of court are the like from the telly
The same as divorce courts, you can go and sit and see who is getting divorced. Even as observer you have to stand up when the judge enters and leaves the court room. Can be upsetting if witnesses are stressed out. :(I think you are wrong about that unless the law is different in Northern Ireland. Over here only the people involved are permitted in at Divorce Hearings and Matrimonial Court.
You can phone the court beforehand and find out what cases are being tried and then pick the juiciest one you want to see. Mind you, if the case takes several days, you either go to observe every day or you will miss the verdict.
The same as divorce courts, you can go and sit and see who is getting divorced. Even as observer you have to stand up when the judge enters and leaves the court room. Can be upsetting if witnesses are stressed out. :(I think you are wrong about that unless the law is different in Northern Ireland. Over here only the people involved are permitted in at Divorce Hearings and Matrimonial Court.
I got divorced and there were other people there, some waiting for their own divorce and my friend was with me all the time too.
I think family courts and cases where minors are the subject are closed courts i.e. the public can't watch.
For Magistrates you can go and watch in the public gallery although the majority are the magistrates setting another date or doing some sentencing if the charge is what is known as a summary offence which is something that holds a sentence of less than 5 years i think, assault ABH, if GBH, Sexual Offences, Murder, Manslaughter, Burglary then they will be in the Crown cOurt and these have a public gallery where you can just go and sit an watch, there will be some instances where you may be asked to leave but this is very rare. It is good to see how they actually work, i went for a week and watched a whole trial, you see the evidence being presented, the witnesses giving evidence the jurys faces, and tere was a moment where the jury had to leave as one of the jurors had to be asked a question to se if she was able to carry on. It is really interesting and is like what you see on telly, although it usually takes a lot longer.
If it is afamily court though such as children choosing which parent or divorce then this is usually downstairs in the court away from the public and is dealt with in private, also if the accused is seen to be at risk such as in gang land crime then there will be no public gallery open and in Noerthern Ireland there were certain instances where there were no jury even due to the main priority being the safeguard of the defendantm it is what is known as a Diplock Court after Lord Diplock.
in Noerthern Ireland there were certain instances where there were no jury even due to the main priority being the safeguard of the defendantm it is what is known as a Diplock Court after Lord Diplock.
Diplock Courts were introduced to prevent Jurors being interfered with or not reaching a proper verdict, NOT to protect the defendant
The same as divorce courts, you can go and sit and see who is getting divorced. Even as observer you have to stand up when the judge enters and leaves the court room. Can be upsetting if witnesses are stressed out. :(I think you are wrong about that unless the law is different in Northern Ireland. Over here only the people involved are permitted in at Divorce Hearings and Matrimonial Court.
I got divorced and there were other people there, some waiting for their own divorce and my friend was with me all the time too.
In Ireland it is different.. there is a seperate court house to the main one, where they do the divorce and family procedures..only those involved are permitted..
When I got divorce it was just me, my ex and our lawyers
My divorce was over 20 years ago, things might have changed since then.
in Noerthern Ireland there were certain instances where there were no jury even due to the main priority being the safeguard of the defendantm it is what is known as a Diplock Court after Lord Diplock.
Diplock Courts were introduced to prevent Jurors being interfered with or not reaching a proper verdict, NOT to protect the defendant
Thats what i meant! Clearly my brain wasnt working when i described that one. It had been a long day! My lecturer wouldnt have been impressed if i put that in my exam.
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