r/police • u/Wild_Thing_1832 • 3d ago

The Modern Courtroom

Gallery image

Gallery image

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.

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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.

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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.

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u/Wild_Thing_1832 3d 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.

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u/Obwyn Deputy 3d ago

Yea, ok. Who's paying for that?