The courtroom and legal system 9 are one of the most important aspect of any nation, considering the fate of a certain individual or individuals. The courtroom has certain procedures and include many controversial cases which have changed laws and point of views. The legal system 9 has a great effect onto courtrooms as they have the laws that the courtrooms must abide to such as the Equal Rights Amendment 5 and the Death Penalty 4. Faults do exist in the courtrooms and legal system 9 of the United States which have great effects on court cases (civil and crime cases 3) and many individuals due to them being executed or live their life in prison. Although the legal system 9 and courtrooms are one of the most important aspects of a nation, many children and adults do not know how one is taken out and the consequences of wrongdoings. The learnings of these courtrooms and laws may, in fact, prevent certain crimes done by people, mostly by the ones done by kids as they do not know the consequences.
The choosing of the Juror, Judge and Lawyers (advocates 1) is a very controversial aspect of the court as they are the ones who decide if the individual is guilty or not guilty. The Jurors job is to be a listener of the evidence and later decide together whether the individual is guilty or innocent. A jury pool 8 or venire 14 is composed long before the court case to choose certain individuals from the state from random voter registration lists to driver’s license lists. Certain people, however, are not able to attend the court case or jury selection due to their job, such as doctors and nurses, as they have a very important job in which they have to participate in. Others, such as teachers, construction workers, restaurant workers, etc. are chosen, but are still payed while absent from work.
After the jury pool 8 is chosen, they are all designated to a certain place, most likely near the courtroom, where they are to be questioned and tested if they are the right people to be part
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of the jury. Six to twelve of the people will be chosen according to the type of court case that is given. Civil Cases 2 mostly include six jurors which can be increased by stipulation 12 of both parties. More severe criminal cases or misdemeanor cases, twelve jurors is a requirement. However, alternate jurors are also chosen in case one of the main jurors cannot make it due to an illness. They do listen to the trial and evidence of the trial like all of the jurors, but then do not enter the jury room where the discussions are being held by the jury on the verdict 15.
In this certain place, they will be tested by the lawyers and judge which is called a jurisdiction 6. During a jurisdiction 6, twelve people on the jury list are called up to be tested. At first, the judge or other personal would describe what kind of trial it is who would then ask if someone is uncomfortable in being in this type of trial. For example, a crime of murder or rape may be taking place and a man or woman would feel uncomfortable serving as a jury member for this type of case. They would then be excused and allowed to not be part of the jurors. The remaining jurors (most jurors are not lost yet), then take part in a voir dire 13 where they would be questioned which would determine if they are biased or not.
If a lawyer feels that a person would make the verdict 15 biased or unfair, he would take it to the judge with a reason to dismiss them. “For example, a juror can be dismissed for cause if he or she is a close relative of one of the parties or one of the lawyers, or if he or she works for a company that is part of the lawsuit” (http://www.americanbar.org/groups/public_education/resou rces/law_related_education_network/how_courts_work/juryselect.html). Lawyers may attempt to dismiss an unlimited amount of jurors until they are satisfied with the jurors. However, the judge may or may not deny the decision of the Lawyer if no good reason is provided. The Lawyers,
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both however, also have peremptory challenges 11 . “These challenges permit a lawyer to excuse a potential juror without stating a cause. In effect, they allow a lawyer to dismiss a juror because of a belief that the juror will not serve the best interests of the client” (http://www.ameri canbar.org/groups/public_education/resources/law_related_education_network/how_courts_work/juryselect.html). These challenges, however, are not allowed to be based on race or sex and are not unlimited. When both parties have decided upon the people in the jury, the jurors are sworn in to try the case by the court clerk.
Other important players of court cases, are the judges who are to “preside over court hearings and trials, supervise legal proceedings and uphold the rights of individuals involved in a legal process” (http://study.com/become_a_judge.html). Judges must work long hours in preparation for hearings and sometimes may have to travel to one, always being available during emergency situations.
The first step to becoming a judge would be to attend undergraduate school which would prepare the careers of individuals for law. Next, the individual would have to obtain a law degree which would include going to law school. Law school would prepare the individual to be a lawyer which is generally required for a judge to be. Lawyers must hold Juris Doctor (J.D.) 7 degrees which “require completing three years of legal education at a law school approved by the American Bar Association (ABA)” (http://study.com/become_a_judge.html). The third step would then be to complete and pass the bar exam which is necessary to be part of the jurisdiction 6 of practice in their state. The fourth step would be to become an attorney who would appear in court, draft court documents and conduct legal research. The fifth step would be to obtain a judgeship where lawyers would be appointed or elected through themselves
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submitting their names, or certain politicians to recommend them. Most of the time, to obtain judgeship, the individual would have to have a strong history of legal practice and support from politicians. The sixth and final step, would be to take several tests which would then accept you to be part of the judges if you pass.
To summarize it all up, the degree level required by the Judge is a Juris Doctorate 7. He or she must have had prior experience as a lawyer is generally required. They also must also have a state-specific license to practice law. They must have critical thinking, reasoning, decision-making and communication and for this they would get around $115,000 annually.
“Lawyers advise clients in legal matters. Also called attorneys, lawyers may advocate for their clients and defend them in court. These roles require lawyers to have extensive training in legal procedure, writing and research. After earning an undergraduate degree, aspiring lawyers must complete law school and earn a Juris Doctor (J.D.) 7 . All lawyers must pass their state's bar exam to practice.” (http://study.com/education_requirements_for_becoming_a_lawyer.html)
To become a lawyer, the individual must have a Juris Doctor (J.D.) 7 where he or she would acquire it from a law school. To get into the law school they must graduate from a bachelor’s degree program and pass the Law School Admission Test. It would be helpful to be good at reading, speaking and argumentation skills which are core necessities in being a lawyer. After earning the J.D degree 7 ,they would have to take a bar exam. A lawyer is expected to make about $115,000 annually like the judge.
When there is a set jury, judge and place, the court case can then be carried out. The individuals attending the courtroom have certain positions to take, actions and must act in a
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certain behavior that is accepted by the court and is accustomed to. There are also different types of court cases that effect the way the case is carried out.
The positions of the individuals in the court are usually very similar in every court. The Judge would be seated in the front of the court as he is one of the main person in the room who would be facing everyone. On the right side of the courtroom would be the in-court clerk and the witness(es) would be next to him or her farther from the judge. On the other side of the courtroom (left side) would be where the jury is. In the middle of the courtroom, towards the bottom, there would be the plaintiff 10 and the defendant, where the plaintiff 10 would be closer to the left, closer to the jury. In between and a bit to the front, would be a podium where they would rise to speak. And lastly, behind all of the individuals would be public seating available to most people. Around the room, there may be security guards in case of a physical dispute that may cause trouble and/or harm.
Each person in the courtroom has a certain role or job before, during, and after the case or trial. The Judges job is to make sure that the courtroom is orderly and conducted to the law and court rules. The judge is to be called “Your Honor”, wears a black robe during hearings or trial and the people are to stand when the judge enters the room. The in-court clerk would have their own specialized work station and would consist of several jobs which include “checking in the parties when they arrive, announcing the judge when he/she enters the courtroom, swearing in the parties by giving the oath to tell the truth, making an electronic recording of the court proceeding, and writing "log notes" which are notes of what is said in the proceeding” (http://cou rts.alaska.gov/shc/family/shctrial.htm). The witnesses are chosen by the Plaintiff 10 or Defendant who have witnessed or seen the case. Physical pieces of evidence may be introduced like blood,
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fingerprints, a knife, etc. Witnesses are to be questioned by the Plaintiff 10 and/or Defendant while sitting in the Witness Box. Defendant The Plaintiff 10 is the person who had filed the case and may be represented by an attorney. He or she would work to find the Defendant guilty and convincing the jury this. The Defendant would be near the Plaintiff 10 and would be accused of committing a crime/wrongdoing and would be tried to be proven guilty. The Jury is to listen to the trial and evidence given and later use that evidence in discussions that would then be taken place outside the courtroom, instead in the jury room. The Jury is rarely allowed to ask questions during a trial or hearing and may only ask a question if permitted or if they write it on a piece of paper and hand it to the judge. If the question is toward the Defendant or Plaintiff 10 , they have the decision to answer the question or not. The public seating consist of members who would sit quietly watching and occasionally may feel despair or contempt. The podium may be used by attorneys to question witnesses or by the plaintiff 10 and defendant if they are representing themselves.