Get a Look at How the Court System Works

Lives do change at the courthouse. Sit in any court, circuit, general district, or juvenile on any day, and you'll see events that can alter the future of a person, a family or an institution. Grieving mothers testify about the loss of their murdered sons and daughters. Children point to the people who abused them. The family of a person killed by a drunken driver tries to get an insurance settlement. Even a misdemeanor conviction is significant. The person could server jail time, pay fines or lose a job and educational opportunities.

It's drama on a scale most people never encounter. That's why there are so many television shows about it. But the real thing, the real people, are always much more interesting. Just go to the closest courthouse, pick a courtroom, walk in and observe. With some minor preparation you can get more out of the experience, and get a seat at the most interesting cases. The most serious cases, such as felonies and lawsuits, are heard in circuit courts. Before you go, check the docket, which is a listing of what cases will be heard, when and where. Many courts post theirs online. One could be in your area.

The courts also post their dockets in the lobby or outside the courtrooms. If you have questions, ask in the clerk's office. The docket also gives a code for the type of hearing. The most interesting usually are JURY, for jury trial; TRYL, for a plea before a judge; PLEA, for a guilty plea, and SENT, for a sentencing. Civil dockets show the parties involved, lawyers and type of hearing. It's harder to tell what kinds of cases are being heard. Most times, if two people with one last name are listed, it's a divorce proceeding.