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Court Proceedings Viewing

In:

Submitted By ChadP
Words 254
Pages 2
Court Watch Report – p. 2
1) Describe the type of proceedings that you observed. Be as specific as possible.
I observed the direct examination and cross examination of the prosecution’s last witness, Investigator Sam Malone of the Rochester Police
Department. Investigator Malone testified about his interview of the defendant and the statement that Mr. Defendant gave regarding the offenses in question. I also observed defense counsel’s motion for a trial order of dismissal and a discussion among the judge and the attorneys regarding the instructions to be given to the jury before they deliberated.
2) Describe the courtroom environment. Was it the way you expected it to be?
Explain how it did or did not meet your expectations.
The courtroom was very small, much smaller and less impressive than I expected. I ended up sitting next to the defendant’s family, which made me a little uncomfortable. This was especially the case because there were no other spectators in the room. The prosecutor had a large cart filled with physical evidence in plastic and paper bags. It took up a lot of the limited space.
3) Describe your impressions of the presiding judge - his/her appearance, demeanor, job performance etc. Give specific examples to support your impressions. The judge appeared to have things well under control in his courtroom and kept the proceedings moving forward efficiently. He spoke clearly and distinctly so that everyone in the courtroom could hear. However, he displayed some impatience in his comments and facial expressions when the defense

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