Adjacent to the bench are the witness stand and the desks where the court clerk and the court reporter sit. The courtroom is divided into two parts by a barrier known as the bar. The bar may be an actual railing, or an imaginary barrier. The bailiff stands against one wall and keeps order in the courtroom.
On one side is the judge's bench, the tables for the plaintiff, the defendant, and their respective counsel, and a separate group of seats known as the jury box where the jury sits (in jurisdictions that allow for jury trials). Apart from the parties to the case and any witnesses, only the lawyers can literally pass the bar (court personnel and jury members usually enter through separate doors), and this is the reason why the term "the bar" has come to refer to the legal profession as a whole (see bar association). There is usually a podium or lectern between the two tables where the lawyers may stand when they argue their case before the judge.
The other side of the bar is open to the general public and there are usually seats for curious spectators. This area is the gallery. Seating for the gallery can either be pew style benches or theater seats. In some cases however, especially in heavily-used urban courtroom settings, the gallery is separated from the rest of the room by a partition of bulletproof glass to prevent injury to spectators (and vice versa), or to control them from charging across the bar in tension-filled cases.
All of the above applies only to trial courts. Appellate courts in the United States are not finders of fact, so they do not use juries or hear evidence; that is the trial court's job. Therefore, in an appellate court, there is neither witness stand nor a jury box, and the bench is much larger to accommodate multiple judges or justices.
The walls are often partially or completely wood-paneled. This is a matter of style and tradition, but some jurisdictions have elected to construct courtrooms with a more "modern" appearance. Some courtroom settings are little more than a closed circuit television camera transmitting the proceedings to a correctional facility elsewhere in order to protect the court from violent defendants who view the proceedings on television within a jail conference room and are allowed duplex communications with the judge and other officers of the court.
Multiple courtrooms may be housed in a courthouse.
If a judge dies during a trial, a new judge would typically be assigned to the case to ensure continuity and proceed with the trial. The new judge would review the case documents and proceedings before making any decisions or rulings.
A "pretrial" WHAT? A pre-trial HEARING - yes. A pre-trial CONFERENCE - no.
When an objection is raised during a trial, a judge typically listens to the objection, considers the legal basis for it, and then makes a ruling on whether to sustain (agree with) or overrule (disagree with) the objection. The judge's decision helps determine what evidence or testimony can be presented in the trial.
Judge Taylor is the presiding judge during Tom Robinson's trial in the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird". He is portrayed as a fair and impartial judge who listens to the evidence presented during the trial. Judge Taylor shows respect for Atticus Finch and runs a courtroom focused on justice.
No, a judge cannot refuse to look at evidence presented during a trial. It is their responsibility to consider all relevant evidence in making a fair and just decision.
During the trial, the judge told the attorney not to fluster the witness.
Yes. The judge can order you into custody at any time during the pre-trial and trial process.
Since no jury is present during a bench trial, it is solely the judge who decides guilty or not guilty.
Yes, a judge can reject a jury verdict in certain circumstances, such as if the verdict is legally inconsistent or unsupported by the evidence presented during the trial. The judge may order a new trial or enter a different verdict.
Yes, a judge has the authority to overturn a jury's decision in certain circumstances, such as if there was a legal error or misconduct during the trial. This is known as a judgment notwithstanding the verdict or a new trial.
The judge at Jurgis' trial was Judge Pat Callahan.
Children typically sit with the prosecutor or victim's advocate during a trial in order to provide support and ensure their well-being. This arrangement shows the court's concern for the child's comfort and protection during the legal proceedings, and recognizes the potential emotional impact of the trial on the child.