“What are all these people doing here? Are they here for me?”
Everyone you see in the courtroom has an important job. They’re all there in pursuit of truth. And some of them are there to help you!
The Judge
The judge sits up front. When the judge comes in you’ll be asked to stand (out of respect).
In most trials, the judge’s job is to make sure everything is orderly and done right and that no one speaks when it’s not their turn.
The Bailiff
The bailiff (pronounced “bay-liff”) is the deputy police officer.
The bailiff is there to keep everyone safe and help the judge. You’ll see the bailiff move around the room a lot during court.
The Defense Attorney
“Attorney” is a fancy legal word for “lawyer”. You may also hear them called “counsel.” It’s all the same.
The defense attorney will ask you and other people questions. Just answer truthfully. If you don’t know or remember something, just say, “I don’t remember.”
The Prosecutor
The prosecutor is a special lawyer who is there to ask questions and explain to the jury what happened in the case.
The prosecutor will probably ask you some questions, too. Just be honest and truthful. Let them worry about the legal stuff!
The Court Reporter
The court reporter quietly types a record of everything happening in the courtroom.
You probably won’t hear from them. They’re just typing away on a special computer!
The Jury
You don’t know these people, and that’s the point!
The jury is a group of ordinary people, like mailmen, moms, and store managers. They’re going to sit together quietly and listen to everything that’s said in court. They’ll decide who is guilty or not.
The Witnesses
You’ll probably see a bunch of people “take the witness stand.” You might be asked, too.
It’s okay to feel nervous. Most witnesses are. But it’s super important to be honest, truthful, and answer questions people ask you.
Okay, but what about…
It’s okay to be nervous! It’s kinda like speaking in front of your classroom. But this is one time and place you’re going to have to be brave. It’s super important that you help the prosecutor and the defense and the jury know what you know to be true. This is how justice is done.
Just say “I don’t know” or “I don’t remember” if you don’t know something. We don’t want to make anything up that isn’t true.
If you are asked to come up to the witness stand, you’ll be asked to swear an oath. But the Bible or any other book is mostly from movies and TV. Instead, you’ll just be asked to swear or affirm that you’ll tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
No, you are not going to jail. But court is a place where some people are sentenced to jail if they are guilty of crimes. If someone hurt you, you’re in court today because a prosecutor is trying to prove to a judge and a jury that person hurt you. And it’s up to the jury to decide if they’re guilty. And if all that happens, the judge will decide if the person who hurt you is going to jail or some other punishment.