Observation in a Courtroom Trial

Observation in a courtroom trial

For this service learning project I went downtown first to the Daley center, then to the Circuit Court of Cook County. While there, I observed various criminal court cases, most which dealt with domestic violence and abuse. There was one particular case that stuck out to me the most. Torense Arnold vs.Latrarice Johnson was the second criminal case, with the man being the defendant against charges of domestic battery, burglary, and felony. Latrice Johnson had described her brutal relationship with Torense as an abusive obsession in which she wanted to get out of. She had been dragged by her hair throughout their house and had nail marks on her hands and face. Torence then pleaded guilty and was held at a 150,000 dollar bond, Latrice was issued an order of protection against him and her siblings.

The significance of observing this courtroom trial was to see the way our federal courts systems work. In this case I saw a criminal law trial, which chapter 15 explains as the branch of the law that deals with disputes or an action involving criminal penalties that regulates the conduct of individuals, defines crimes, and provides punishment for criminal acts. Chapter 15 gave me a better understanding of how our judiciary system works and what exactly are the factors that determine a case. It describes the right to appeal that was given to and rejected by Torence. It also defines the right of standing, which gives us the right to bring a court case to trial.

Since we live by a federalist government, it assures us that we have a certain balance among government powers which gives us the right to a fair trial and jury within our state. Our legal rights are also outlined in the Bill of Rights. Amendments 5 through 10 express our rights as citizens to speedy trial, reserved powers, and rights of accused persons in criminal proceedings. I also learned the types of fines and charges that can be given to criminals in cases such as domestic