CRIJ 1306 NVC Courtroom Observation & Procedures in Case Analysis Essay

Text Book Americas courts and the Criminal Justice System 12thed Neubauer and Fradella

UPDATED COVID INSTRUCTIONS.

Look online for actual courtroom cases. For the options below, make sure you include links to each video clip viewed. Don’t list the source, PROVIDE THE LINK.

A. Use numerous short clips from different cases that display various topics covered in the textbook. These could be 10-20 minute clips that display specific actions in a court case. For example. You could have 6-10 short clips that each show different actions such as attorney civility or incivility, witness testimony, victim statements, evidence, cross examination, etc.

ORIGINAL INSTRUCTIONS

COURTROOM OBSERVATION

Students will observe the courtrooms of their choice but should observe two courtroom proceedings at the Bexar County courthouse. You do not need to pre-register or coordinate your visit with anyone in the courthouse. Just go to the various courtrooms and see what cases might interest you. Usually the courtroom bailiff will provide some information on the cases that day. A student may observe courtroom proceedings in another major city/county court if a person does not reside in the greater San Antonio area.

2. The courtroom observation is worth a maximum of 100 points for both observations combined. Each observation is not worth 50 points because one courtroom may have more observable activity than the other. The grading looks at both observations as a single graded product.

a. Each observation report should be typed, double-spaced, and between 2-3 pages long. A student should spend a minimum of at least four hours observing the two courtroom proceedings. This is an individual assignment.

b. See the course syllabus for the due date for this assignment. Reports are to be submitted in Canvas in the course homepage as a Word file in the “assignments” tab.

3. For each courtroom observation report, use the following format:

a. The name of the judge/type of court (e.g., civil, criminal).

b. State the name of the case (e.g., Smith v. Jones, if a civil case; Texas v Jones, if a criminal case)

d. What is the issue in the proceedings? (e.g., If a civil case, is it a personal injury case, tort, probate? If a criminal case, is it a DUI, assault, or a burglary case?)

e. Relate what you observe in court to chapters in the text. Look ahead to issues that we have not yet covered in the course.

1. For example, comment on the courtroom work group and the actions of the attorneys. Do attorneys exhibit any particular “style”?
2. How did the judge conduct court? What is the court atmosphere? (Is the atmosphere formal, informal…explain.)
3. Provide a narrative on the court proceedings. What happened? Note any of the actions you observed to topics in the text.