Wednesday, March 6, 2019
The busiest day of the week
My first visit to a courtroomhouse took place on a Monday, which is apparently the busiest day of the week. The first impression I had of the multitude was that they both seemed to cave in a purpose. There did not seem to be anyone worry me an observer trying to get a feel for the courthouse. It was a scrap intimidating to go to court with start a reason. I was a itty-bitty concerned that someone would ask me where I belonged, or ask me to return the judicature where I was watching the proceedings. As it turns out, e trulyone is out-of-the-way(prenominal) too spry with their own concerns to worry about anyone else.When I arrived at the courthouse, I had to walkway several blocks this was the closest place to park. I waited outside in make with at least a hundred people, most of whom had a board notice in their hands. It took a while to get inside because of the surface detectors. I noticed that many people were able to cut to the battle motion of the course of action . It seemed that they were court employees or lawyers. Once inside, I had to put my bag and keys in the tray before being admitted. A woman in the other line set off the detector, and the guard checked her over carefully.Clearly, security is very tight in the courthouse. I checked the schedule that was posted on the wall so I could figure out what courtroom to visit. I was early, so I had to wait outside in the hallway for a half hour before entering with a large sort of people. The seats in the courtroom were almost completely filled I only waited about ten minutes before the bailiff instructed us to repose quiet during the proceedings, to turn off our cell phones, and for the defendants to remain in the courtroom until they had been called.I noticed a few manpower and women sitting in the front wearing suits and holding briefcases. The bailiff opened a door and several men and women dressed in jail jumpsuits sat down in the jury box. At this point, the bailiff told us to rise a nd announced the opine as the skillful Judge Ronald Meeks. He was accompanied by a woman with a stack of files. The bailiff introduced everyone the woman was the file clerk. There was also a court reporter and two clerks. The first case was called. A young smuggled male was led to the defense table from the jury box, and Judge Meeks instructed the prosecuting officer to begin.He utter that the young man was being arraigned on charges of possession of narcotics with clothed to sell. The intent to sell was implied because of the amount of drugs he possessed at the magazine of his arrest. The assay asked if the defendant had any priors, and was told that he had been arrested twice before on the same charges and convicted once. The defendant had just been released from the county jail three months earlier. At this point, the judge asked for a bail recommendation, and the prosecuting attorney requested that it be set at $50,000.The defense lawyer, an older black woman dressed in spring clothes, argued that he could not afford the bail because he didnt confine a job. She assured Meeks that he lived at home with his bring and that his mother would take responsibility to make sure he came to court for his struggle. The judge told her that because of his prior conviction, the amount of bail would stand. Judge Meeks asked if there was anything else, and both lawyers stated that they were finished. At this point, the judge turned to the clerk and asked her to set a trial date.She gave a date that was two months away, but the prosecutor said that he was unavailable. The date was finally set three months ahead. Once the case was dismissed, the prosecutor remained at the table and the defense lawyer and her client left the courtroom. It was at this point that I realized they were doing arraignments the entire day in this courtroom. iodin by one, the defendants would go up with their lawyers (or in some cases, they would meet a public defender) and hear the char ges against them and the amount of bail to be set. There was no drama, and there were no arguments.It was all very quiet and civilized. As I left the courtroom, I saw jury members going in and out of the jury room. Many of them were on cell phones, complaining about hold to be released. The courthouse was very crowded that day, and there were many individual courtrooms with people waiting outside. I can understand now why the courts have such a long backlog of cases. There are far too many people seeking a judges attention, and too few employees to handle the masses. My final impression is that a courthouse is in all probability the best place to work because it seems that there is a job for everyone.
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