What Are All the Roles in Court

Defence counsel or duty counselA person who represents the accused in court. If the accused does not have a lawyer, he or she may have the right to be represented by a proxy lawyer. Witnesses testify to the facts disputed in the case. During their testimony, they sit on the witness stand overlooking the courtroom. Because witnesses are invited to testify by one party or another, they are often referred to as plaintiff witnesses, government witnesses, or defence witnesses. Sometimes witnesses do not speak English. Since what happens in the hearing room may affect the parties in the years to come, all parties involved must be able to hear and understand the proceedings. The court interpreter may be present in the courtroom or interpret by telephone. The court interpreter must swear to interpret everything that is said accurately. Most tribunals hire interpreters as needed. This person ensures that everything is in place in the courtroom and that the process runs smoothly and according to plan.

The scribe swears in anyone who must take an oath before testifying. The court clerk also looks after the jury members, ensuring that they can move from one place to another in the courthouse, and acts as a messenger if the jury has to ask questions of the judge during deliberations. The Registrar is responsible for all forms, documents and evidence necessary during a hearing or trial. Each county has a supervisor, who then has one or more assistant clerks who assist with case handling and courtroom duties. The employee works for the judiciary. The United States Marshals Service is the agency responsible for the security of the justice system. The Marshals Service is a law enforcement agency and therefore works for the executive rather than the judiciary, although it provides a valuable service to the courts. U.S. Marshals provide security inside the courthouse and judicial functions outside the courthouse. They issue arrest warrants, arrest people and arrest refugees. They transport defendants who are in custody to and from their trials and trials. There is a U.S.

Marshal for each federal district, assisted by U.S. Marshals Deputy staff and judicial security officers. Prosecutor A person who appears in court to present the case against the defendant at a criminal hearing. Cases before the Magistrates` Court and the Children`s Court are usually prosecuted by a police officer. Cases brought before higher courts are usually prosecuted by the Public Prosecutor`s Office. This person, also known as a stenographer, is responsible for accurately recording everything that is said in the courtroom during trials. The court reporter is a specialized skill that requires years of preparation and practice to master. It is very important to document everything that is correctly said for the court record, as this ensures the responsibility of all parties. A party who has a question about what was said or not may request the minutes from the court reporter. If one of the parties appeals, the higher court must have access to court records so that they can be reviewed for errors. Some courts use electronic audio recordings instead of a court reporter, but even in these courts, a written record is created for each appeal. The jury will consist of six to twelve U.S.

citizens selected by the prosecutor and defense counsel; However, the judge has the final say on who can be used. The jury will observe the trial and then consider the facts and witness statements to decide whether the accused is guilty or innocent. The jury must be unanimous in its decision, otherwise the court will consider it a “suspended jury” and a new trial will take place. The key figures in a court case are the judge, a court reporter (at the Supreme Court), a clerk and a bailiff. Other key people are lawyers, plaintiff, defendant, witnesses, court interpreters and jurors. The judge is the central figure in the courtroom and usually sits higher than everyone else. The judge gives each party an opportunity to present his or her side of the story. A court reporter (at the High Court), a clerk and a bailiff assist the judge during the hearing. The court reporter records all proceedings before the higher court. The Case Officer records certain activities for official records and is responsible for all exhibits. The bailiff maintains order in the court and supervises the jury, if necessary. Lawyers often represent both plaintiff and defendant in a lawsuit.

As judicial officials, lawyers are expected to know and abide by all the rules of the court. Their job is to protect the rights of their clients. Lawyers present evidence and arguments to help the judge and jury make a fair decision. The judge oversees the process and rules on all legal issues that arise. Cases heard by the courts are decided either by a judge or by a jury. In most criminal and civil cases, either party may request a jury trial. In order to ensure a fair and consistent trial, all proceedings must be conducted in accordance with established rules of procedure and evidence. Court interpreters are provided for a limited number of English-speaking participants in a case. Juries are at the heart of the judicial system in the United States. In all serious criminal cases, the accused has the right to a trial by a jury representative of the accused`s community. This type of jury is a trial or small jury, but there are also grand juries. Each fulfills a specific role in the judicial system.

Trial or small jury Since 1980, the names of potential jurors have been determined at random from lists of registered voters and licensed drivers 18 years of age and older. The Supreme Court may also designate other lists of residents from which juries may be chosen. All U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years of age and reside in the jurisdiction in which they are subpoenaed are eligible for jury service. A person qualified to serve on a jury is exempted from office only if he or she has been declared mentally incapable or mentally ill, or if he or she is a convicted criminal whose civil rights have not been restored. There are no automatic excuses or exemptions from jury work. Potential jurors may be summoned by a justice of the peace, district court or the Supreme Court jury commissioner. Once selected, a prospective jury may be summoned to court for 120 days, although in some courts the time frame is shorter (e.g., one day before trial).

In the higher court, a jury for a criminal case consists of 8 to 12 people, depending on the severity of the possible sentence. A unanimous decision is required. For civil cases before the higher court, the jury consists of eight persons; The approval of six members is required to render a judgment. In courts with limited jurisdiction, there are six jurors. A verdict in criminal cases requires unanimity, and five of the six jurors must agree on a verdict in civil cases. The law accepts judgments if fewer jurors agree, if both plaintiff and defendant have already consented in a civil case. In criminal proceedings, the plaintiff, the defendant and the court may determine the number of jurors who must agree on a verdict. A Grand Jury consists of 12 to 16 citizens who have qualified for jury service in the county. As a general rule, they must be convened for a period not exceeding 120 days.

A county grand jury is tasked with investigating possible public offenses, including bribery or wilful misconduct by sitting officials. To initiate criminal proceedings, the district attorney may present evidence to a grand jury and ask it to refer a criminal charge or a genuine bill formally charging someone with a crime. An indictment means that a quorum (nine members) of the grand jury believes that a crime has been committed and that there is sufficient evidence against the person to hold a trial. The powers and duties of the state grand jury are similar to those of the county grand jury, except they extend statewide. Up to three grand juries can be convened simultaneously at the state level (constituted). The scope of state grand jury investigations is determined by law. The Supreme Court makes rules governing grand jury procedures. LawyerA lawyer hired by a lawyer to present the defence or accusation in court. The court reporter sits by the witness box and usually types the official transcript of the trial (anything said or presented as evidence) onto a stenographic machine. Federal law requires that a word for word be recorded of each trial.