Other Courtroom Components

• Attorney Tables.
• Bailiff’s Station.
• Court Clerk’s Station.
• Court Reporter’s Station.
• Judge’s Bench.
• Jury Box.
• Spectator Seating.
• Witness Stand.

Typically, the Plaintiff’s table is on the right side, and the Defendant’s table is on the left side. However, the Plaintiff’s side has the right to sit closest to the jury box. Very often, you will see a secured door on one side of the courtroom and see a deputy positioned beside it.

In many jurisdictions, cameras are not allowed in courtrooms in order to prevent distractions and preserve privacy. This requires news media to rely on sketch artists for illustrations of the proceedings.

Bench

judicial assistant

When sitting in criminal proceedings, judges wear scarlet robes with grey silk facings, bands or a jabot and a bench wig. When sitting in appeal or in civil proceedings, judges and masters wear a black silk gown, a bar jacket with either bands or a jabot and a bench wig.

To maintain the dignity of the Court, the Court requests that the following list of minimum standards regarding appropriate dress be met before entering the courtroom. 1) Men should wear a shirt with a collar and long pants. (Jeans are acceptable). 4) Shorts, T-shirts, and revealing clothing are not acceptable.

Clothing Not to EVER wear to court: Including, tight tops, short skirts, sequins, slinky tops, revealing tops. Do not wear anything you would wear out on a Saturday night! Sundress or strapless dress. Clothing that is too small or too large.

Like many uniforms, wigs are an emblem of anonymity, an attempt to distance the wearer from personal involvement and a way to visually draw on the supremacy of the law, says Newton. Wigs are so much a part of British criminal courts that if a barrister doesn’t wear a wig, it’s seen as an insult to the court.

Why barristers don’t shake hands. The custom dates back to sword-bearing times, when a handshake was considered a way to demonstrate to a person that you were not armed. Since barristers were gentleman, they trusted each other implicitly, and therefore there was no need to shake hands.

American judges stopped wearing wigs in the early 19th century, and this was partly to show that the US was republican and democratic.

Under men’s judicial robes, judges usually wear white shirts with neckties. Under female judiciary robes, women may usually wear blouses. But in the summer, it’s not unheard of for judges to wear golf shirts, casual t-shirts, and then they just put their judicial robes over the clothes.

While they were usually the uniform for academics and scholars, robes were also worn during visits to the royal court. So it made sense to give someone in a high position, such as a judge, a kind of uniform befitting of their status. And so the robes were adopted by judicial officials.

Black represents submission of oneself to Justice. Just like Priests wear black to show their submission to God, Lawyers wear black to show their submission to justice. Black colour is a symbol of dignity, honour, wisdom and justice and these are the values which every lawyer and Judge has to uphold and protect.

Bibs, also known as jabots or bands, are usually reserved for ceremonial wear, including admission ceremonies and swearing in of judges. They first appeared in 1640 when lawyers swapped neck ruffs for ‘falling bands’ of plain linen.

Types of legal evidence include testimony, documentary evidence, and physical evidence. Evidence and rules are used to decide questions of fact that are disputed, some of which may be determined by the legal burden of proof relevant to the case.

Barristers kept wearing the detachable starched collars in a “wing collar” shape, with the two white bands around their necks. And that’s basically what is worn today.

In cases with a jury, the judge is responsible for insuring that the law is followed, and the jury determines the facts. In cases without a jury, the judge also is the finder of fact. A judge is an elected or appointed official who conducts court proceedings.

A judge should not allow family, social, political, financial, or other relationships to influence judicial conduct or judgment.

In most common law jurisdictions, the jury is responsible for finding the facts of the case, while the judge determines the law. Typically, the jury only judges guilt or a verdict of not guilty, but the actual penalty is set by the judge.

Because judges have no accountability, they can do whatever they please. Judges are the only public officials with no accountability, and they want to keep it that way.

Judges base their decisions on precedents set in similar cases.

Tips for Speaking in Front of the Judge

1. Be yourself. Well, at least be the best version of yourself.
2. Do not lie, minimize your actions, or make excuses.
3. Keep your emotions in check.
4. The judge may ask you when you last used alcohol or drugs.
5. Be consistent.
6. The judge may ream you out.

A judge must impose a sentence that is sufficient, but not greater than necessary, to: reflect the seriousness of the offense; promote respect for the law; provide just punishment for the offense; adequately deter criminal conduct; protect the public from further crimes by the defendant; and provide the defendant with …

If you have been charged by the police and have an upcoming court appearance, you will have the option to plead guilty or not guilty in court. In the justice system, pleading guilty is a mitigating factor which is considered by a judge during sentencing, meaning that there is a likelihood it will reduce your sentence.

Judges also use the Federal Sentencing Guidelines Manual. Unlike mandatory minimums, the sentencing guidelines are advisory, not mandatory. In calculating sentences, judges are allowed to go below or above someone’s guideline sentence depending on the circumstances of the case.

The judge will not read your letter and will send it to the opposing party/attorney. Such a letter is known as an ex parte communication.

In person: In an interview, social event, or in court, address a judge as “Your Honor” or “Judge [last name].” If you are more familiar with the judge, you may call her just “Judge.” In any context, avoid “Sir” or “Ma’am.”

It is a “win-win” for a judge if a case is resolved by settlement. There are too many cases on an average court docket to resolve them all by trial. With the assistance of counsel trained in negotiation techniques, it is possible to put a smile on a judge’s face.

In some legal cases, it may be beneficial for a defendant to write a letter to the judge before sentencing. However, this should only be done only after a defendant discusses this action with their attorney. If the attorney believes that it will help the defendant’s case, the letter will be submitted into evidence.