Justia Lawyer Rating
10 Best, Attorney Client Satisfaction Badge from the American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys
Top 100 Trial Lawyers Badge from The National Trial Lawyers
Top 100 Badge from America's Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys
NADC
Avoo Rating, 10.0 Scott Grabel
Top 10, Attorney and Practice Magazine's, Criminal Defense Law Firm

Criminal & Civil Cases: What Happens in a Courtroom?

by Scott Grabel

A trial is where two or more parties present evidence and information to a court of law. Trials are held in courtrooms for both civil and criminal cases. A civil case takes place to settle claims or lawsuits as a person or multiple people. In a civil case, there is a plaintiff and a defendant. A criminal case occurs when charges are brought against a person by the government. During a courtroom trial, there are several people present including the judge, lawyers, defendant, court reporter, and others. Knowing the roles of the judge and other key players in a trial helps in understanding how a court trial works.

Who Can Be Found in a Courtroom?

The Judge

The judge is the person who presides over a trial from a desk called a bench, which is normally on an elevated platform at the head of the courtroom. A judge has five basic tasks during a trial. First, they are responsible for maintaining order in the court and presiding over all proceedings. The judge must also determine the legality of any evidence to be presented during the trial. Thirdly, the judge is responsible for giving the jury instructions on laws which apply to the case at hand as well as standards that must be maintained in deciding the case. In bench trials, a judge must determine the facts and decide the outcome of the case without a jury. The fifth and final task for judges is sentencing criminal defendants after they have been convicted.

The Lawyers

During a trial, there is a lawyer or lawyers for each party who can be found seated at the counsel tables which face the judge's bench. The task of each set of lawyers is to bring forth facts that paint their client in a positive light and prove their innocence. In the case of criminal trials, one of the lawyers actually works on behalf of the government. Occasionally, parties will represent themselves instead of hiring a lawyer, in which case the party is said to be acting pro se, meaning on their own behalf.

The Court Reporter

A court reporter is present during all trials taking place in a courtroom. They are seated near the witness stand where they type out the official record of the trial using a stenographic machine. Under federal law, every trial must be recorded word for word. The court reporter is also responsible for writing a transcript of the proceedings if any party requests a transcript or appeals the case. Transcripts are not made available to jurors as there is not enough time for them to be created.

The Defendants

During a criminal trial, defendants have the right to be present, and depending on the crime, are often required to be present in the courtroom. In civil cases, the defendant is allowed to be present but oftentimes they are absent from court.

The Court Deputy

There is always a court deputy present during a trial. Deputies are normally seated near the judge where they administer oaths to witnesses. The court deputy is also responsible for marking exhibits and helping the judge keep the trial in order and running smoothly.

The Witnesses

During a trial, witnesses are called to give testimony about disputed facts in the case. During testimony, witnesses sit on the witness stand, which faces the courtroom. Witnesses are asked to testify by one party in the trial and are therefore referred to as defense witnesses, government witnesses, or plaintiff witnesses.

The Jury

In criminal trials, there is usually a jury present. The jury consists of people who have been questioned beforehand and deemed to be able to provide an objective view. A jury consists of twelve members and often a few alternates in the case that any of the original jury members need to be dismissed.

During a court trial, the parties are allowed to present their cases using approved legal procedures. If a jury is present, they are then tasked with exploring the evidence presented during the trial even further to come up with a verdict.

Continue Reading About Court Trials

Client Reviews

★★★★★
If you are reading these reviews you are about to make a decision that will have a large impact on the rest of your life. I choose Grabel and Associates to represent me in my case and I could not have been more satisfied with the level of professionalism and dedication to their clients. I had the opportunity to meet and work with multiple lawyers in the practice all of which showcased a vast knowledge and understanding of the inner workings of the legal system. When you choose Scott Grabel to represent you will open yourself up to all of his resources. Depending on your case Grabel knows experts in all fields. I worked with polygraph examiners, investigators, and forensics experts. Grabel and Associates will defend without prejudice of innocence or guilt. Scott Grabel was able to lead me through every step of the process with great communication the whole way. I would recommend Scott Grabel and Associates to my friends, family and anyone who is in need of representation. B. A.
★★★★★
Best attorney in state of Michigan. Caring and a true friend. Scott was with us every step of the way. He fought for a great injustice for our son and was able to provide an outcome that gave his life back. L. A.
★★★★★
Scott and his firm did an awesome job representing a family member of mine, I would highly recommend him and his firm! They were extremely reliable, trustworthy and very informative and did a great job with the case. I couldn't be happier with the results that we received, I can't speak highly enough about the great job he did. If you are thinking about using his firm, I would highly recommend, I would definitely use his firm again if needed, he is an a great attorney with a great firm, you won't be disappointed! M. F.