8 Key People and Things in a Courtroom

When you enter a courtroom for a superior court case, you may see similar people and things inside it. Superior court consists of criminal and civil court cases. Criminal court is when someone has been charged with breaking a law, whereas civil court is when there are legal disagreements between people, businesses or organizations. The following are the people and things you can expect to see during a court case. 

1. Judge

The judge is arguably the most important person in a courtroom. The judge may be appointed or elected and is the head person who looks over court proceedings. They hear both sides of a case, moderate the arguments and provide decisions on cases. 

2. Court Reporter

Another person present in superior court cases is a court reporter, who records everything that occurs in the case. They provide transcripts of what was said and who said what during a case. They do this in real-time, which means they have to be able to type very quickly and be familiar with court proceedings. Since different states and cities may have slightly different proceedings, it is important for the court reporters to be familiar with the processes of where they are working. For example, when court reporters Phoenix are working, they are knowledgeable about cases in Arizona.

3. Clerk

In the courtroom, the clerk is responsible for specific administrative concerns. This may include maintaining records, administering oaths to people speaking in court, preparing meeting agendas, issuing licenses or permits and researching and documenting information for judges. They hold a variety of roles and are key for the day-to-day functioning of cases.  

4. Bailiff

The bailiff helps maintain order in a courtroom and will supervise the jury if the case has a jury present. They may walk a defendant through the courtroom, enforce rules set by the judge and deliver documents as necessary. Bailiffs are sometimes known as Court Officers, Marshals or Court Security Officers.

5. Attorney

Attorneys are the individuals that may support the defendant and plaintiff at trials. Plaintiffs are the individuals who initiate a lawsuit against the defendants. Attorneys are experts in the field and try to help their clients "win" their case or get the best deal for their case. 

6. Interpreters

If someone in the court does not speak the primary language well, there may also be an interpreter present. This may occur if someone is a Spanish speaker and is not proficient in English. The interpreter listens to the English speakers and then speaks it in Spanish so that the Spanish speaker is aware of what is occurring in the case. 

7. Juries

In criminal cases, there are usually juries present. Juries are individuals who are at least 18 years old and are registered to vote or have driver's licenses. They are called to juries in the areas in which they are registered to vote or have their license, and serve as representations of the population as a whole. A large number of juries are called and are narrowed down to just eight to 12 juries for each case. Both the plaintiffs and defendants play a role in choosing the juries in order to make it as fair as possible. 

8. Equipment and Furniture

There are specific spots and furniture in courtrooms. The judge's bench is front and center, as they play a central role in the case. The court reporter usually sits next to the judge. There are tables or desks for both the plaintiff and defense attorneys. The jury box is on the side and is where the members of the jury sit. There is a general seating area for individuals who want to listen to the case. There is a witness chair for witnesses to sit as they provide testimony. There is also a podium, which is used by the attorneys to speak to the jury. 

Next time you are in court, you can have a better perspective about who's who and what is going on there.