Observation In Criminal Trial

During my observations, I witnessed a few different steps in the adjudicative process. On the 2nd and 9th of February, I observed the Athens County Court of Common Pleas. The presiding judge over these cases was judge Pat Lang. This court system is for criminals who commit serious, violent or dangerous crimes known as felonies. I was lucky enough to come across all three of the different types of encounters mentioned by Maynard in week 3; judicial, negotiation, and public defender/client. I viewed one full criminal trial and witnessed various continuances and plea bargains taken and as a result, the cases did not go to trial. Throughout my observations I found many instances about how the courts function that relate to the material discussed …show more content…
In the short amount of time I spent in the courtroom, a continuance was given or mentioned at least 4 times. A continuance can occur if an attorney does not have all the facts of the case together, an important person in the case does not appear, loss or destruction of paperwork, etc. Plea bargaining is also something that occurred often during my exploration into the court system. Plea bargains are lessened convictions or punishments offered in return for a guilty plea. There were many people in the waiting area that had been charged with crimes that took plea bargains rather than going to trial. People more than likely take plea bargains because they are unaware that they can fight the conviction and possibly be found not guilty, however taking the plea seems to be the easy way out. The defendant may also want a quick outcome and not drag the situation out and cost more money that they may not be able to pay in the first place. In this way, courts are like open systems, in that they work together to resolve issues quickly and fairly using workgroup tactics. This strategy was mentioned by Feeley in week 2 when discussing lower …show more content…
Plea bargaining is quick and effective but also deceiving in a way. A defendant might feel that there is no other option than to take the plea or suffer worse consequences of the original crime. The charges may be worse but you have a better opportunity of being found not guilty if you take your chances at a trial. The way the courtroom is arranged aids in defining who is in power and who is not. People think there are no consequences for their actions until they arrive in court and are faced with an inevitable punishment administered by a judge. Our justice system is overcrowded and their main focus is speed. People are not getting the true fair chance they deserve by not taking advantage of their due process rights. I enjoyed this project and thought it was very helpful in getting a first hand understanding of how the courts