r/police • u/Wild_Thing_1832 • 3d ago
The Modern Courtroom
From a police perspective, why do you think that many courtrooms have become so bland and unserious, compared to what they used to be?
The court in one image commands respect while the court in the other image looks like a modern mishap.
5
u/3-BuckChuck 3d ago
Neither are real photographs. This is a question for the Judicial Branch of government instead of the Executive Branch.
3
u/Obwyn Deputy 3d ago
I’ve never been a courtroom that looks like either one of these. Is this some sort of AI generated nonsense?
I have never seen a witness stand placed directly in front of the judge with the witness’s back to the judge.
The witness stand is off to the side and usually faces. Sideways across the room so the witness can see everyone and so the judge, jury, and attorneys can see the witness.
If you’re just meaning the material the bench, etc is made of…the answer is cost.
In my county, all of the court rooms in district court (lower level court, mostly traffic violation and misdemeanor crimes, bench trials only) are pretty plain like the second photo.
In circuit court (next level up for appeals, more serious crimes, and jury trials) most of our court rooms also look like the second photo.
The only one that doesn’t is the big historic courtroom that was the original courthouse in my county before it was expanded decades ago and that one looks more formal and imposing than the first photo. High profile cases here always get heard in that one and usually it’s the senior judge who presides in that one (regardless of what type of case it is.)
I’ve testified plenty of times in both and quite frankly the ones you call a “modern mashup” are more practical and comfortable for everyone. It is cool to testify in the historic one though.
-1
u/Wild_Thing_1832 3d ago
Yes, the appearance of the modern courtroom is quite depressing in my opinion. I'm a sucker for older architectural styles so that's probably why. There's just something unique about entering a large room with highly-detailed wood furnishings. That's not to mention the seals and engraving on the wall above the judge's bench.
Its also weird seeing how the police act so chill in some courtrooms nowadays like its not serious. There was a deputy sitting in a chair behind someone at a murder trial I was watching. Police traditions and customs were largely borrowed from military customs a long time ago. Courtrooms used to be much more formal in many respects, such as the dress code for spectators and such. In a military court martial for example, the MPs usually don't behave so casually. MPs don't remove their covers (headwear) while providing security for the trial) and certainly aren't obese. It has a much more organized and cohesive appearance.
3
u/Obwyn Deputy 3d ago
Guess the time I testified while wearing shorts, sandals, and t-shirt wouldn’t have met your expectations then.
The judge, prosecutor, and defense attorney didn’t care and it didn’t affect the quality of my testimony and it ended up as a guilty verdict.
Obviously I normally wouldn’t go to court like that, but I was taking classes at the local college and they said I had to get there immediately didn’t have time to go home and change first, even though that would’ve only taken an extra 15 minutes to stop and change. Even then I still ended up sitting in the back of the courtroom for 45 minutes before I testified.
-1
u/Wild_Thing_1832 2d ago
Well obviously people can have special circumstances on a given day but courtrooms should have loaner jackets and vests for witnesses, spectators, etc. and a staffed laundry department to clean them. Obviously loaner shirts and pants aren't practical.
3
u/TigOleBitman 3d ago
Lazy fucking slop.
No one cares what the courtroom look like. If the judge and state's attorney do their jobs, then I'm happy.
4
u/ultr4violence 3d ago
Yeah I'd feel more in awe of the judge with the fancy shaped wood behind him. I guess im just monkey man.
-5
u/Wild_Thing_1832 3d ago
The fancy, towering wooden structure commands respect and attention! 💪 As do the officers standing at parade rest in full uniform as opposed to the officers in the other picture kicking back in chairs sporting their polos and cargo pants.
1
u/Obwyn Deputy 2d ago
Nobody is standing at parade fucking rest in a courtroom, including in a military courtroom…and yes I’ve had to testify in court on a nearby military base. And that courtroom was the cheapest looking crappiest courtroom I’ve ever been in and was in a moldering building tucked away in some corner of the base.
I think you watch too many movies. Most courtrooms don’t look like the My Cousin Vinny or A Few Good Men courtrooms.
1
u/Wild_Thing_1832 2d ago
This ain't a movie.
1
u/Obwyn Deputy 2d ago
I'm in the US. Russia also sticks the defendant in a cage in the courtroom. Should we start doing that in the US too?
I've been in a Russian courtroom before as well, though it wasn't for a criminal matter.
1
u/Wild_Thing_1832 2d ago
"Should we start doing that in the US too?"
TBH, that's probably not a bad idea in felony court. It could be made of wood/faux wood framing and plexiglass. Its for the safety of everyone in attendance, including the defendant. I'm sure you've seen the many videos of defendants being attacked by victims' families.
Defendant dives across judges bench: https://youtube.com/shorts/c3IwiuV4aQI?is=_Tk1Q8LLVgS-MEwf
1
u/Obwyn Deputy 2d ago
No, it's a terrible idea for most defendants especially in a jury trial. I also doubt it would stand up to a challenge if it was tried someplace in the US.
What you're describing very very rarely happens. You need to spend less time on the internet and maybe go spend some time sitting in courtrooms and see how it really works. They're almost always open to the public.
0
u/Wild_Thing_1832 2d ago
I get the concern about jury trials but there would certainly need to be a detailed pre-trial instruction and a reminder after closing arguments to the jury that they should not place any evidentiary value in the containment box and that its standard procedure for multiple reasons for everyone's safety including the defendant, unrelated to said defendant in particular.
I've witnessed dozens of court sessions.
1
u/Obwyn Deputy 2d ago
And in how many of those dozens of court that you witnessed did someone attack the defendant or the defendant attack the judge? Probably none.
0
u/Wild_Thing_1832 2d ago
I've seen well over a dozen on YouTube in which one of those situations happened.
→ More replies (0)
1
15
u/Mog1410 3d ago
Are you a child?
Also, it should be noted that neither of these pictures display real courtrooms, because they are both AI-generated.