Using the Excursion form to take notes during your visit to court, you are to type up your complete responses to these questions and submit in a report format.
Answer the following questions:
- Which court did you attend and what was the date of your attendance?
(e.g. Magistrates Court in Southport; Supreme Court in Brisbane etc) - What kind of hearing did you attend?
(e.g. sentence, summary trial, committal hearing, jury trial, mention, call-over etc) - What were the charges against the defendant? Were these summary or indictable offences? How did you know this?
- Who was present in the courtroom? Identify the positions of all the people present (i.e. judge, prosecutor, bailiff, defendant, jury, etc) and give a brief description of their role and what you observed them do in the courtroom during your visit.
- Briefly describe what was happening in the courtroom. This will depend on the kind of hearing you attend. For example, if you are attending a trial you might be listening to the prosecution’s opening address; or evidence from a witness; or a Judge summing up for the jury. If you are attending a sentence you might be hearing the defence’s submissions as to penalty, or the Judge’s sentence. If you attend a Magistrate arrest court you might see a succession of summary offences dealt with.
- What was the most interesting thing you observed during your visit?
- Was it easy to understand what was happening in the court room? Why/why not?
- Do you think a defendant would understand the court process you observed? What about a witness, or a victim of crime, or a jury member? Give reasons to support your answer.
- In a paragraph or two, critically reflect upon your experience in court. Keep in mind the topics that we have covered in class this semester and identify any relevant issues or concepts we have discussed that arose in the hearing you attended.
TASK B
Your role in the District or Supreme Court is as a law reporter for your local paper. Write an article on the case you will observe.
Sample Solution